The inexorable increase of biologic exposure in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: a Scottish, population-based, longitudinal study

Christopher J. Burgess, Rebecca Jackson, Iain Chalmers, Richard K. Russell, Richard Hansen, Gregor Scott, Paul Henderson, David C. Wilson

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Citations (Scopus)
    58 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Background: The use of biologics in paediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is rapidly changing. Aims: To identify the incidence and prevalence of biologic use within Scottish PIBD services, and to describe patient demographics and outcomes for those patients who required escalation of therapy beyond anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) agents. 

    Methods: We captured a nationwide cohort of prospectively identified patients less than 18 years of age with PIBD (A1 phenotype; diagnosed <17 years of age) within paediatric services over a 4.5-year period (1 January 2015–30 June 2019). All patients who received infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab or ustekinumab during the study period and/or received their first dose of these biologics were audited retrospectively. 

    Results: Scotland-wide PIBD-prevalence cases increased from 554 to 644 over the study period. A total of 495 incident new-start biological therapies were commenced on 403 PIBD patients: 295 infliximab (60%), 161 adalimumab (32%), 24 vedolizumab (5%) and 15 ustekunumab (3%). The proportion of new-start biologics changed with infliximab initiation rates decreasing (87%–54%) while adalimumab (13%–31%), vedolizumab (0%–9%) and ustekinumab (0%–6%) all increased. The incidence rate (first dose of new biologic not including biosimilar switch) increased from 6.9% to 8.1% over the study period and point prevalence rates (any biologic use) increased from 20.2% to 43.5% - an average annual percentage increase of 20%. Biosimilar penetration of new-start anti-TNFα agents increased from 3% to 91%. Demographics and outcomes of those patients receiving vedolizumab and ustekinumab were similar. 

    Conclusions: Complete accrual of Scottish nationwide biologic usage within paediatric services demonstrates a rapidly changing, inexorably increasing PIBD biologics landscape.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1453-1459
    Number of pages7
    JournalAlimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
    Volume56
    Issue number10
    Early online date4 Oct 2022
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 21 Oct 2022

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Hepatology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Pharmacology (medical)

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