Real-world adherence and healthcare resource utilization following transition to aripiprazole once-every-2-months from oral or once-monthly aripiprazole among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in the United States

Objective To assess adherence and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among adults diagnosed with schizophrenia who transitioned from oral aripiprazole or aripiprazole monohydrate once-monthly (AOM) to aripiprazole monohydrate 2-month ready-to-use (Ari 2MRTU).Methods Data for patients who transitioned to Ari 2MRTU were retrospectively obtained from the Kythera Labs United States closed-claims database. Outcomes were examined 6 months pre- versus post-index (first Ari 2MRTU claim = index).Results Following transition from oral aripiprazole (n = 153), proportion of days covered (PDC) and medication possession ratio (MPR) increased by 21.3% and 24.6%, respectively, and proportion of adherent patients (MPR ≥ 0.8) increased by 59.2% (all p < 0.001). Mean ± standard deviation all-cause inpatient visits and hospital length of stay (LOS) were lower post- versus pre-index (0.28 ± 0.88 vs 0.67 ± 1.85 visits and 1.05 ± 3.95 vs 2.63 ± 6.14 days, p = 0.019 and p = 0.008, respectively). For schizophrenia-related HCRU, mean LOS (0.19 ± 1.05 vs 0.91 ± 3.94, p = 0.031) and proportion of patients with ≥ 1 outpatient visit (36.0% vs 54.9%, p = 0.019) were lower post- versus pre-index. Following transition from AOM (n = 526), PDC and MPR increased by 38.8% and 36.6%, respectively, and proportion of adherent patients increased by 47.9% (all p < 0.001). All-cause LOS was lower post- versus pre-transition (0.64 ± 2.63 vs 1.05 ± 3.93 days, p = 0.047).Conclusion Transitioning to Ari 2MRTU was associated with significantly improved adherence and reductions in certain HCRU measures in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.