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Background: A poor patient adherence often limits the real-world effectiveness of an oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study, we aimed to map patient preferences, attitudes toward treatment, and quality of life to identify the predictors of non-adherence to teriflunomide. Methods: This was a single-arm, non-interventional, multicenter study (Czech Act 378/2007 Coll.) consisting of three visits: the first at treatment initiation (teriflunomide 14 mg), and then after 3 and 9 months of therapy. We enrolled both DMT-naïve and patients who had undergone a DMT diagnosed with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The functional status and MS activity were estimated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and annualized relapse rate (ARR); the quality of life via the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29); the medication adherence with the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8); the confidence in the ability to take medications by the Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Score (SEAMS); and the attitude to the therapy via the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ). After nine months of therapy, we predicted the adherence to teriflunomide (MMAS-8) by fitting a multivariate ordinal logistic model with EDSS changes, gender, previous DMT, MSIS-29, BMQ, and SEAMS as the explanatory variables. Results: Between 2018 and 2019, 114 patients were enrolled at 10 sites in the Czech Republic. The mean age was 41.2 years, 64.8% were diagnosed with a CIS, 52.4% were DMT-naïve, and 98.1% of patients preferred an oral administration at the baseline. The mean EDSS baseline was 1.97 and remained constant during the 9 months of therapy. The ARR baseline was 0.72 and dropped to 0.19 and 0.15 after 3 and 9 months, respectively. Despite a more than 4-fold higher ARR baseline, the treatment-naïve patients achieved an ARR at 9 months comparable with those previously treated. There were ten non-serious adverse reactions. After nine months of teriflunomide therapy, 63.3%, 21.2%, and 15.4% of patients had a high, medium, and low adherence, respectively, as per the MMAS-8; 100% of patients preferred an oral administration. The SEAMS score (odds ratio (OR) = 0.91; p = 0.013) and previous DMT (OR = 4.28; p = 0.005) were the only significant predictors of non-adherence. The disability, the quality of life, and beliefs about medicines had no measurable effect on adherence. Conclusion: After nine months of teriflunomide therapy, both the disability and quality of life remained stable; the relapse rate significantly decreased, 63.3% of patients had a high adherence, and 100% of patients preferred an oral administration. A low adherence was associated with previous DMT experiences and a low self-efficacy for the appropriate medication (i.e., the confidence in one's ability to take medication correctly).

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Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR) has been increasing over the years, and allergen immunotherapy (AIT) remains the only disease-modifying treatment. However, cost-effectiveness data remain scarce. Methods: In this single-arm, noninterventional, prospective, multicenter study, we describe the effectiveness, safety and costs of subcutaneous AIT for pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Results: Of 471 new AIT users, 317 completed three courses of treatment, and symptoms improved in 96%; no serious adverse reactions were reported. The cost of symptomatic medication decreased by 49% and the cost of unscheduled specialist visits decreased by 73%. Except for AIT administration, total healthcare costs decreased by 54% compared with the baseline pollen season without AIT. Conclusion: In clinical practice, subcutaneous AIT is an effective treatment generating savings on symptomatic medication and unscheduled consultations.

Hay fever has become more frequent over the years, and allergen immunotherapy (AIT) remains the only treatment able to reduce both symptoms and the root cause of this condition. However, it is not clear whether the benefits outweigh the price of the therapy. In this study, we observed patients in the common practice and described the effectiveness, safety and costs of injected AIT for pollen-induced hay fever. Of 471 new AIT users, 317 completed three courses of treatment in 3 consecutive years. Symptoms improved in 96% of them; no serious adverse reactions were reported. The cost of symptom-relieving medication decreased by 49% and the cost of unscheduled physician visits decreased by 73%. Except for costs related to AIT administration, total healthcare costs decreased by 54% compared with the years before AIT. In clinical practice, injected AIT is an effective treatment which generates savings on other medication and unscheduled physician consultations.

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BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects 46.3 million people; its prevalence has tripled over the last 50 years. AF leads to formation of blood clots increasing four-fold the risk of a stroke. Preventive anticoagulant therapy with warfarin has been well established for over 50 years but has efficacy and safety limitations. New anticoagulants do not require laboratory monitoring of prothrombin time, have low risk of adverse events, yet are more costly. METHODS: This non-interventional (Act 378/2007 Coll.) retrospective-prospective single-arm cohort study consisted of 3 visits. The primary objective was to compare the total direct cost of treatment with warfarin and apixaban. Patients with non-valvular AF were enrolled at the time of discontinuation of warfarin and switching to apixaban. Costs were derived from the care provided and the list of medical procedures (Decrees 268/ 2019 Coll.). Satisfaction was assessed using SAFUCA® questionnaire. RESULTS: Between February 2017 and June 2019, 499 patients were enrolled in 29 Czech internal medicine clinics. The mean age of the patients was 73.6 ± 10.2 years, 36.5% were at high risk of bleeding (HAS-BLED score). Previous warfarin treatment lasted 5.9 ± 2.7 months, 63% were unable to achieve target prothrombin time, 18% switched due to adverse reactions. New apixaban treatment was followed for the first 6 months. Treatment with warfarin was associated with higher rates of major bleeding and adverse events (22 vs. 2), stroke (17 vs. 0), ischemic heart attack (11 vs. 0), and minor bleeding (173 vs. 2). The average daily cost following the switch to apixaban decreased from CZK 65.2 to CZK 4.8 (p.

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OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in a real-life Czech bicentric cohort. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 50 patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab in two centres in the Czech Republic. Baseline characteristics, the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were collected at baseline and each 3 following months. The proportion of patients achieving EASI50, EASI75, EASI90 and EASI100 were analysed. Levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) were collected before and after 6 and 12 months of therapy. Adverse events were recorded as well. RESULTS: Thirty-two men and 18 women with mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.7 were enrolled in our analysis. The mean age of the patients was 37.6 years and the mean time from diagnosis until the initiation of dupilumab therapy was 35.0 years. After 4 months, EASI75 was achieved by 75.7%, out of which 40.5% achieved EASI90 and 10.8% achieved complete clearance. Improvement continued with time, and the proportion of patients with EASI90 increased to 71.4% at the 6th month and at the 12th month of therapy the EASI90 was 65.2%. EASI100 was achieved by 14.3% and 13.0% at the 6th and 12th month, respectively. A marked reduction was observed in the DLQI and also in IgE levels. EASI responses were independent of BMI. No new safety issues were identified. Adverse events were experienced by 44% (22/50) of the patients and they were all mild in intensity. Conjunctivitis and herpes simplex virus infection were the most common adverse events. CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in a real-life setting in adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD in the Czech Republic. Dupilumab was well-tolerated and resulted in a significant clinical improvement in combination with improvement of quality of life.

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BACKGROUND: Dupilumab has been approved to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis; however, the data in a real-world setting are still limited. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab. METHODS: This was a real-life Czech multicenter retrospective study from patients treated with dupilumab for severe AD. RESULTS: A total of 360 patients were included. At 16 weeks, 66.6, 34.1, and 5.5% of patients achieved EASI75/90 and EASI100, respectively. Improvement continued with the time, and the proportion of patients with EASI75/90 and EASI100 increased to 89.5, 55.6, and 12.9% after one year of treatment and reached 95.8, 60.4, and 27.1% in the second year of therapy, respectively. A significant reduction was observed in the DLQI scores. The most common adverse events were infections in 5.8% of patients, followed by ocular complications in 2.5% of patients. Persistence rates were 98.2% at four months to 93.1% at month 24, and lack of effectiveness was the most common reason for discontinuation. CONCLUSION: This real-life study confirmed the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in a real-life setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study revealed a higher frequency of infections and a lower conjunctivitis frequency than other real-life studies and clinical trials.

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INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of adalimumab as well as investigate the persistence of treatment and identify factors, which may affect it. METHODS: More than 1150 patients (4363.1 patient-years) with psoriasis who had been treated with adalimumab since the start of the BIOREP registry in the Czech Republic were included in this analysis. Treatment effectiveness was defined as improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). The analysis was performed during the years 2005 and 2018. Patients were on on-label dose. RESULTS: After 12 and 96 months of therapy, 84% and 88% of patients had a 75% reduction in PASI score from baseline, respectively. Drug survival was analyzed according to the number of previous biological therapies, and results showed 75% and 58.1% survival rate for biologically naïve patients in the 20th and 80th month of treatment, respectively. The negative predictors of adalimumab survival were the female gender, obesity, baseline PASI score and the number of previous biological therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline factors including PASI, number of previous biological therapies, and sex were associated with shorter adalimumab survival. This long-term study shows that adalimumab is effective and has high treatment persistence.