TY - JOUR
T1 - Glucagon fill rates and cost among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in the United States, 2011–2021
AU - Benning, Tyler J.
AU - Heien, Herbert C.
AU - Herges, Joseph R.
AU - Creo, Ana L.
AU - Al Nofal, Alaa
AU - McCoy, Rozalina G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Aims: To characterize glucagon fill rates and costs among youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: Claims-based analysis of commercially-insured youth with T1DM included in OptumLabs® Data Warehouse between 2011 and 2021. Glucagon fill rates and costs were calculated overall and by formulation (injectable, intranasal, autoinjector, and pre-filled syringe). Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with glucagon fills were examined using Cox regression. Results: We identified 13,267 children with T1DM (76.4% non-Hispanic White). Over mean follow-up of 2.81 years (SD 2.62), 70.0% filled glucagon, with stable fill rates from 2011 to 2021. Intranasal glucagon had rapid uptake following initial approval, and it accounted for almost half (46.6%) of all glucagon fills by 2021. Family income was positively associated with glucagon fills in a stepwise fashion (HR 1.39 [95% CI 1.27–1.52] for annual household income ≥$200,000 vs. <$40,000), while Black race was negatively associated with fills (HR 0.83 [95% CI 0.76–0.91]) compared to White race). Annual mean out-of-pocket costs ranged from $21-$68 (IQR $29-$44). Conclusion: Roughly 30% of commercially-insured youth with T1DM may lack access to unexpired glucagon, with significant disparities among Black and low-income patients. Health systems, clinicians, schools, and caregivers should work together to ensure children have reliable access to this critical medication.
AB - Aims: To characterize glucagon fill rates and costs among youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: Claims-based analysis of commercially-insured youth with T1DM included in OptumLabs® Data Warehouse between 2011 and 2021. Glucagon fill rates and costs were calculated overall and by formulation (injectable, intranasal, autoinjector, and pre-filled syringe). Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with glucagon fills were examined using Cox regression. Results: We identified 13,267 children with T1DM (76.4% non-Hispanic White). Over mean follow-up of 2.81 years (SD 2.62), 70.0% filled glucagon, with stable fill rates from 2011 to 2021. Intranasal glucagon had rapid uptake following initial approval, and it accounted for almost half (46.6%) of all glucagon fills by 2021. Family income was positively associated with glucagon fills in a stepwise fashion (HR 1.39 [95% CI 1.27–1.52] for annual household income ≥$200,000 vs. <$40,000), while Black race was negatively associated with fills (HR 0.83 [95% CI 0.76–0.91]) compared to White race). Annual mean out-of-pocket costs ranged from $21-$68 (IQR $29-$44). Conclusion: Roughly 30% of commercially-insured youth with T1DM may lack access to unexpired glucagon, with significant disparities among Black and low-income patients. Health systems, clinicians, schools, and caregivers should work together to ensure children have reliable access to this critical medication.
KW - Administrative claims database
KW - Glucagon
KW - Health services research
KW - Hypoglycemia
KW - Pediatrics
KW - Type 1 diabetes mellitus
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U2 - 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.111026
DO - 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.111026
M3 - Article
C2 - 38000667
AN - SCOPUS:85178016558
SN - 0168-8227
VL - 206
JO - Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
JF - Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
M1 - 111026
ER -