Comparative Effectiveness of Second Generation Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics Based on Nationwide Database Research in Hungary: An Update.

Greater 1-year and 2-year treatment continuation rates and longer median time to discontinuation for second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) long-acting injectables (LAIs) vs oral antipsychotics (OAPs) in Hungary were previously reported. This study reports an updated comparison between new LAIs vs OAPs in Hungary. De-identified claims data from Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund database of schizophrenia patients who were newly initiated on SGAs (November 01, 2016 to June 30, 2017) were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were likelihood of all-cause 1-year and 1.5-year discontinuation of newly initiated SGA and median time till discontinuation. Among 5400 patients, 3977 (73.6%) were OAP users and 1423 (26.4%) were LAI users. The 1-year continuation rate were 12.7% (risperidone)-34.1% (olanzapine) for OAPs and 26.4% (risperidone LAI)-78.6% (paliperidone 3-monthly [PP3M]) for LAIs. The 1.5-year continuation rates were 9.3%-29.5% for OAPs and 24.9%-76.4% for LAIs. Median (95% CI) time to discontinuation was 52 (33-67) days (clozapine)-152 (134-168) days (aripiprazole) for OAPs and 125 (64-196) days (risperidone LAI)-491 (250-not reached) days (aripiprazole LAI) for LAIs. All-cause discontinuation risk was significantly higher in all OAPs vs PP3M and aripiprazole LAI ( < .01) as well as in each LAI vs PP3M ( < .05). Patients switching on new LAIs from another LAI remained longer than those who switched from OAPs/no previous treatment. Results showed the advantage of LAIs over OAPs in terms of time to treatment discontinuation. Moreover, new SGA LAIs (PP3M) seem to be better than previous LAIs in terms of time to treatment discontinuation.