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Title HELP SEEKING PATTERNS AND FUNDING STRATEGIES IN PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION ON PDE 5 INHIBITORS: AN ORPHAN DISEASE WITH EFFECTIVE BUT HIGH COST OF TREATMENT |
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Type Free Paper Session 3 |
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Theme ACC Asia & SCS 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting |
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Topic Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology / Adult Congenital Heart Disease / Cardiac Surgery |
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Main Author Vianne Lau1 |
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Presenting Author Vianne Lau1 |
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Co-Author Justin Jiang1 Yinghao Lim 1 Ting Ting Low 1 Tingwei Teo1 Siti Munawarah Bte Maaroof 1 Ivandito KUNTJORO 1 James Yip 1 Edgar Tay1 |
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Department / Institution / Country Internal Medicine / National University Hospital / Singapore1 |
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Objective(s) Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with high medical and pharmacy costs. Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors have been found to be beneficial but costly. They are not subsidised in Singapore except via the Medication Assistance Fund Plus scheme. In this study, we describe the help-seeking behaviour of patients and funding strategies for Singaporean patients on PDE5 inhibitors in our registry. |
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Material and Method We consecutively recruited all patients with PAH when they presented to our pulmonary hypertension specialty centre between 01 January 2003 and 29 December 2016. Singaporean patients on PDE5 inhibitors were included. Data recorded and analysed for this study included baseline demographics, whether the patients received MAF plus funding, percentage of funding, as well as any additional source of subsidies. |
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Result(s) 114 of 148 patients (77.0%) in the registry are Singapore citizens on PDE5 inhibitors. 75 of these 114 patients (65.8%) have been seen by a medical social worker, of which 16 are on MAF Plus funding. 14 of the remaining 59 patients were subsidised by Medifund whereas the remainder were self-paying. 30 patients in total (26.3%) were on any form of subsidy. 28 patients (24.6%) were on combination therapy. Of this group, 9 were on MAF Plus subsidies. |
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Conclusion We identified fewer than expected patients on drug subsidy for PAH. This is contributed to by insufficient referrals and lack of requests for financial assistance. Patients on combination therapy have greater financial challenges. This study should spur us on to further study gaps in funding and address them. |