Characterizing healthcare resource utilization in two rare diseases (Kleefstra syndrome and SLC6A1 epileptic encephalopathy) using multimodal real-world data

TL;DR

This study examines healthcare resource use in two rare genetic diseases, finding that diagnosis leads to changes in the types of care received.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into healthcare resource utilization patterns before and after diagnosis in two rare diseases using real-world data.

Findings

Healthcare encounters did not significantly change in number pre- and post-diagnosis, but the types of encounters did.

Genetics encounters decreased post-diagnosis, while cardiology and radiology encounters increased in Kleefstra syndrome.

Survey responses indicated that 68% of caregivers reported changes in care after diagnosis.

Abstract

The cumulative economic burden of rare diseases surpasses that of common conditions, yet patterns of healthcare resource utilization (HRU) across rare diseases remain poorly characterized. This study leverages multimodal data collected during clinical care and through surveys to provide an in-depth evaluation of HRU across the disease journey of individuals with rare genetic diseases. Individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of Kleefstra syndrome (KS; n = 40) or SLC6A1 epileptic encephalopathy (SLC6A1; n = 30) were recruited. Structured and unstructured data were abstracted from participants’ medical records. Encounters per person-year of follow-up were calculated and compared pre- and post-diagnosis. Parents/guardians completed surveys assessing the impact of the participant’s diagnosis on their care.

Records were available for a median of 6.4 years of follow-up from 268 unique healthcare facilities (median per patient = 4.5 facilities). Numbers of healthcare encounters were not significantly different 1 year pre- and post-diagnosis for either condition; however, the proportion of specialty encounters pre- and post-diagnosis varied significantly. Genetics encounters decreased for both conditions post-diagnosis. Cardiology, sleep medicine, and radiology encounters increased in KS post-diagnosis; conversely, audiology encounters decreased in KS post-diagnosis, and radiology encounters decreased in SLC6A1 post-diagnosis. Among specialty encounter types assessed, general practitioner (e.g. primary care, including pediatrics) encounters were the most common type for KS participants and the second-most common for SLC6A1 participants (after neurology encounters) both 1 year pre- and post-diagnosis. The number of both echocardiograms and electrocardiograms (ECG) significantly increased in KS 1 year post-diagnosis. 68% of survey respondents indicated that the participant’s care changed post-diagnosis.

Though there was no significant difference in the number of encounters pre- and post-diagnosis, significant changes in types of HRU suggest that diagnosis leads to more appropriate care and treatment. Advocacy organizations, researchers, drug developers, payors, and policymakers should consider the value of an early diagnosis to improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for patients and invest in measures that will shorten the time to diagnosis accordingly.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13023-025-03879-x.

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