Characteristics and drug utilization of patients with hereditary angioedema in Italy, a real world-analysis

This real-world analysis investigated the characteristics and treatment patterns of patients
with hereditary angioedema (HAE) in Italy using the administrative data of health units across Italy.
Patients were identified via exemption code or HAE-specific treatments (thus, all known forms, type
I, II and, III, were included). The index date was that of first prescription of HAE treatments within
the inclusion period (01/2010–06/2021) or of the date of exemption. The number of HAE patients included
was 148 (43.2% male, mean age 43.3 years). Gastrointestinal disorders affected 36.5% patients,
hypertension affected 28.4%, hypercholesterolemia affected 11.5%, and depression affected 9.5%.
The frequent gastrointestinal involvement was further confirmed by the use of antiemetics and
systemic antihistamines that doubled after the index date. Among patients enrolled by treatment
(n = 125), n = 105 (84%) were receiving a treatment for acute attacks. This analysis provided insights into
the characterization of patients with HAE and their management in Italian clinical practice, suggesting
that an unmet therapeutic need could be present for such patients in terms of the clinical burden