Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research (Oct 2023)

Central Nervous System-related Conditions and Associated Healthcare Resource Use Among Japanese nmCRPC Patients Based on Retrospective Claims Data

  • Dianne A. Ledesma,
  • Jonathan L. Chua,
  • Susan S.H. Tang,
  • Xiu W. Lim

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 2

Abstract

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**Background:** Japanese patients with prostate cancer are typically treated with primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), most commonly administered as a combination of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist and an antiandrogen (AA). Since LHRH agonists and AA therapy can be maintained for several years, the long-term effects of these treatments on patients must be carefully considered, including the risk of concomitant central nervous system (CNS) conditions which could affect treatment choices. **Objective:** To describe CNS-related concomitant conditions during ADT and/or AA treatment and the subsequent healthcare resource utilization in Japanese nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) patients. **Methods:** Patients diagnosed with nmCRPC and CNS-related conditions while on ADT and/or AA therapy between April 2009 and August 2017 were retrospectively followed up for a maximum of 2 years using a claims database. **Results:** A total of 455 patients (average age, 78.5 years), were included. The 3 most common concomitant CNS-related conditions were pain (~60% of events), insomnia (~30%), and headache (2%-3%). The frequency of CNS-related conditions in these patients increased approximately threefold after starting AA therapy (before, 969 events; after, 2802). On average, a patient had 10 episodes of concomitant CNS-related conditions in a year. Medical costs did not significantly increase due to CNS-related conditions. **Discussion:** The most frequently reported CNS-related conditions were pain, insomnia, and headaches. Furthermore, more concomitant CNS-related conditions 1 year after CRPC diagnosis and 1 year after starting AA treatment were recorded. **Conclusion:** Patients with nmCRPC experience an increase in the frequency of concomitant CNS-related conditions, including pain, insomnia, and headaches, after CRPC diagnosis or starting AA treatment. Future research should explore the causes of this increased frequency.