Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes

Abstract Background Here, the perspective of patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency receiving subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) via introductory smaller size pre-filled syringes (PFS) or vials were compared. Methods An online survey was conducted in Canada by the Association des Patie...

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Main Authors: R. Mallick, G. Solomon, P. Bassett, X. Zhang, P. Patel, O. Lepeshkina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-02-01
Series:BMC Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12865-024-00608-0
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author R. Mallick
G. Solomon
P. Bassett
X. Zhang
P. Patel
O. Lepeshkina
author_facet R. Mallick
G. Solomon
P. Bassett
X. Zhang
P. Patel
O. Lepeshkina
author_sort R. Mallick
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Here, the perspective of patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency receiving subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) via introductory smaller size pre-filled syringes (PFS) or vials were compared. Methods An online survey was conducted in Canada by the Association des Patients Immunodéficients du Québec (APIQ) (10/2020–03/2021). Survey questions included: reasons for choosing SCIg packaging and administration methods, training experiences, infusion characteristics, and switching methods. The survey captured structured patient-reported outcomes: treatment satisfaction and its sub-domains, symptom state, general health perception, and physical and mental function. Respondents using PFS were compared with vial users, overall and stratified by their administration method (pump or manual push). Results Of the 132 total respondents, 66 respondents used vials, with 38 using a pump and 28 using manual push. PFS (5 and 10 mL sizes) were being used by 120 respondents, with 38 using a pump and 82 using manual push. PFS users were associated with a 17% lower median (interquartile range) SCIg dose (10 [8, 12] vs. 12 [9, 16] g/week, respectively), a significantly shorter infusion preparation time (15 [10, 20] vs. 15 [10, 30] mins, respectively), and a trend for shorter length of infusion (60 [35, 90] vs. 70 [48, 90] mins, respectively) compared with those on vials. Patient-reported treatment satisfaction scores were overall similar between vial and PFS users (including on the domains of effectiveness and convenience), except for a higher score for vials over PFS on the domain of global satisfaction (p=0.02). Conclusions Consistent with prescribing that reflects a recognition of less wastage, PFS users were associated with a significantly lower SCIg dose compared with vial users. PFS users were also associated with shorter pre-infusion times, reflecting simpler administration mechanics compared with vial users. Higher global satisfaction with treatment among vial users compared with PFS users was consistent with users being limited to smaller PFS size options in Canada during the study period. Patient experience on PFS is expected to improve with the introduction of larger PFS sizes. Overall, treatment satisfaction for SCIg remains consistently high with the introduction of PFS packaging compared with vials.
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spelling doaj.art-be221d307fa24e11990c35ed988a499a2024-03-05T18:37:27ZengBMCBMC Immunology1471-21722024-02-0125111710.1186/s12865-024-00608-0Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomesR. Mallick0G. Solomon1P. Bassett2X. Zhang3P. Patel4O. Lepeshkina5CSL BehringAssociation des Patients Immunodeficients du QuébecMeridian HealthComms LtdCSL BehringFormerly of CSL BehringCentre hospitalier de l’Université LavalAbstract Background Here, the perspective of patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency receiving subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) via introductory smaller size pre-filled syringes (PFS) or vials were compared. Methods An online survey was conducted in Canada by the Association des Patients Immunodéficients du Québec (APIQ) (10/2020–03/2021). Survey questions included: reasons for choosing SCIg packaging and administration methods, training experiences, infusion characteristics, and switching methods. The survey captured structured patient-reported outcomes: treatment satisfaction and its sub-domains, symptom state, general health perception, and physical and mental function. Respondents using PFS were compared with vial users, overall and stratified by their administration method (pump or manual push). Results Of the 132 total respondents, 66 respondents used vials, with 38 using a pump and 28 using manual push. PFS (5 and 10 mL sizes) were being used by 120 respondents, with 38 using a pump and 82 using manual push. PFS users were associated with a 17% lower median (interquartile range) SCIg dose (10 [8, 12] vs. 12 [9, 16] g/week, respectively), a significantly shorter infusion preparation time (15 [10, 20] vs. 15 [10, 30] mins, respectively), and a trend for shorter length of infusion (60 [35, 90] vs. 70 [48, 90] mins, respectively) compared with those on vials. Patient-reported treatment satisfaction scores were overall similar between vial and PFS users (including on the domains of effectiveness and convenience), except for a higher score for vials over PFS on the domain of global satisfaction (p=0.02). Conclusions Consistent with prescribing that reflects a recognition of less wastage, PFS users were associated with a significantly lower SCIg dose compared with vial users. PFS users were also associated with shorter pre-infusion times, reflecting simpler administration mechanics compared with vial users. Higher global satisfaction with treatment among vial users compared with PFS users was consistent with users being limited to smaller PFS size options in Canada during the study period. Patient experience on PFS is expected to improve with the introduction of larger PFS sizes. Overall, treatment satisfaction for SCIg remains consistently high with the introduction of PFS packaging compared with vials.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12865-024-00608-0ImmunodeficiencySubcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg)Packaging methodPatient reported outcomesPre-filled syringes (PFS)Manual push
spellingShingle R. Mallick
G. Solomon
P. Bassett
X. Zhang
P. Patel
O. Lepeshkina
Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes
BMC Immunology
Immunodeficiency
Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg)
Packaging method
Patient reported outcomes
Pre-filled syringes (PFS)
Manual push
title Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes
title_full Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes
title_fullStr Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes
title_short Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies – impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes
title_sort subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies impact of drug packaging and administration method on patient reported outcomes
topic Immunodeficiency
Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg)
Packaging method
Patient reported outcomes
Pre-filled syringes (PFS)
Manual push
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12865-024-00608-0
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