Real-world Outcomes Following Biologic Initiation in US Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is often associated with persistent symptoms and impaired quality of life despite treatment with intranasal corticosteroids. Biologics (dupilumab, mepolizumab, omalizumab) have been recently approved for CRSwNP. This study aims to characterize biologic use and real-world outcomes, including medication use and nasal polyps (NP) surgeries, following biologic treatment in US patients with CRSwNP.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed linked data from IQVIA longitudinal prescription and medical claims databases (July 2018-June 2023). Patients evaluated included those with ≥ 2 diagnoses of CRSwNP and ≥ 12 months of baseline data (overall cohort, index = first observed CRSwNP diagnosis) as well as patients with CRSwNP who received ≥ 2 consecutive biologic doses and had ≥ 24 months of follow-up data (biologic cohort, index = first biologic).

Of 74,480 patients with CRSwNP, 8716 (12.0%) received a biologic and 2208 met all inclusion criteria. Dupilumab was the most frequently received biologic (89.8%; mepolizumab, 5.3%; omalizumab, 4.8%). Relative to the overall cohort, the biologic cohort was younger (mean age: 52.6 vs. 57.6 years), had more women (54.0% vs. 46.1%) and had a higher baseline prevalence of asthma (72.4% vs. 30.9%), allergic rhinitis (70.6% vs. 37.4%), NP surgery (15.8% vs. 5.8%), oral corticosteroid (OCS) use (84.0% vs. 51.8%), and antibiotic use (84.2% vs. 68.7%). During the 24 months after biologic initiation, 65.6% of patients had ≥ 1 OCS use (≥ 2 OCS uses during months 1-12, 27.0%; during months 13-24, 27.0%) and 77.9% had ≥ 1 antibiotic use; and 7.1% of patients without NP surgery before biologic initiation had ≥ 1 NP surgery during follow-up. Almost half of patients (49.3%) discontinued (≥ 90 days without receipt) their initial biologic during follow-up.

Biologic use was relatively low among US patients with CRSwNP. OCS and antibiotic usage among patients with CRSwNP remained substantial despite use of currently approved biologics, indicating an unmet need for improved treatment options.