Issue:
A major pharmaceutical client sought to better understand the utilization of anti-hypertensive agents among patients with a diagnosis of hypertension with concomitant diabetes. The client also wanted to know if the utilization patterns that were observed were consistent with current treatment guidelines and to determine where their product fit in the overall treatment landscape.
Solution:
- We conducted a cluster analysis to identify clusters of patients prescribed with anti-hypertensive medications to determine if the patterns of use were consistent with current treatment guidelines for patients with comorbid hypertension and diabetes.
- Using claims data, we identified specific treatment clusters based on pharmacological classification of the medications the patients were initiated with. The cluster analysis did reveal distinct clusters of medication use which in turn, did mirror current treatment guidelines. A key finding from this analysis indicated that physicians were not prescribing the target therapy as first or second line but were reserving the target therapy for distinct patient sub-types. This insight provided valuable actionable information that was used by our client in determining key research questions for follow-up studies.
- This analysis was disseminated internally to client internal decision makers.
