Objective: To determine if racial and/or socioeconomic factors influence advanced therapy utilization for refractory overactive bladder (OAB) among the commercially insured.
Methods: We queried Optum, a national claims database, between 2003 and 2017. Non-neurogenic OAB patients were identified using ICD-9/10 diagnosis codes. Demographic and treatment data were collected, including oral medication therapies (anticholinergic, beta3 agonists), and advanced therapies (OnabotulinumtoxinA [BTX], Sacral Nerve Stimulation [SNS], percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation [PTNS]). Associations between patient sociodemographic factors and advanced therapy utilization were explored.
Results: Of 4,229,617 OAB patients, 807,612 (19%) received medical therapies, of which 95% received oral medications only and only 4.7% received advanced therapies. Asians had the lowest use of oral therapy use (14% vs 18%-19% in other races/ethnicities, P <0.05), and advanced therapy use (0.44% vs 0.71%-0.93%, P <0.05). Asians and Hispanics were least likely to utilize SNS therapy and most likely to use PTNS compared to Blacks and Whites. BTX use was similar between races/ethnicities (P <0.05). Female gender (OR 1.65 [CI 1.61,1.69]), younger age (<65) (OR 1.28 [1.25,1.31]), higher annual income ≥$40K (OR 1.09 [1.06,1.12]) and prior use of oral medications (OR 3.30 [3.21,3.38] for 1 medication) were significantly associated with receiving advanced therapies. Non-white race (OR 0.89 [0.87,0.91]), lower education level (less than a bachelor's degree) (OR 0.97 [0.94,0.99]), and Northeast region were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving advanced therapies (P <0.05 for all).
Conclusion: Among commercially insured, racial and socioeconomic factors predict utilization of advanced OAB therapies, including race/ethnicity, age, gender, education level, and region.
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