To compare hospitalization outcomes between the 1-year before and after efgartigimod initiation in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).
While significant reduction in hospitalizations and exacerbations after efgartigimod initiation was observed in the ADAPT/ADAPT+ trials, evidence in clinical practice is limited.
In this retrospective cohort study, patients with MG who initiated and continued efgartigimod for ≥1-year were identified from an integrated dataset of US medical and pharmacy claims (based on information licensed from IQVIA: Longitudinal Access and Adjudication Data [LAAD] for the period April 2016−January 2024, reflecting estimates of real-world activity [all rights reserved]) and data from the My VYVGART Path patient support program (PSP). Hospitalizations were evaluated based on inpatient claims recorded during 1-year before and after efgartigimod initiation (index date), and further classified. Exacerbations were defined as inpatient encounters with ICD-10 codes for MG with exacerbation. Crises were defined as intensive care unit admissions with ICD-10 codes for acute respiratory failure. Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scores before (≤90 days) and after (≤365 days) index were obtained from the PSP.
440 patients were included. Mean (SD) age was 60.6 (15.0) years and 46% (n=201/440) were female. Compared to the 1-year before index, mean hospitalization events were significantly reduced in the year after index by 52% (pre: 0.65, post: 0.31, P<0.05) for all-cause, and by 63% (pre: 0.41, post: 0.15, P<0.05) for MG-specific events. Mean annual MG-specific exacerbations and crises per patient were significantly reduced by 68% (pre: 0.28, post: 0.09, P<0.05) and by 71% (pre: 0.07, post: 0.02, P<0.05), respectively. Among 190 patients (43%) with MG-ADL available, mean (SD) best-follow up scores were significantly reduced after index (8.0 [3.7] to 3.1 [2.5], P<0.05).
Based on US claims, hospitalizations, exacerbations, and crises were significantly reduced post-efgartigimod initiation, consistent with the ADAPT/ADAPT+ trial.