Frequency of Biological Drug Use in Older Patients with Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Results from the Large-Scale Italian VALORE Distributed Database Network
This study documented a significant rise in biological drug use among older patients with IMID in Italy over the last decade. Around 50% of users discontinued treatment after the first year, with even higher rates observed in very old patients with polypharmacy. These findings highlight potential concerns about the use of biological therapies in older patients and underscore the urgent need for large-scale cohort studies to address the current knowledge gaps regarding their safety and effectiveness in this vulnerable population.
Authors
- Ester Sapigni
- Sebastiano Addario Pollina
- Annalisa Campomori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6201-0616)
- Valeria Belleudi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8286-443X)
- Luca L’Abbate (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0232-6402)
- Ylenia Ingrasciotta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9038-6573)
- Marco Massari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0745-7519)
- Aurora Puccini
- Martina Zanforlini
- Giampaolo Bucaneve (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2695-9845)
- Giorgia Pellegrini
- Paolo Carta
- Ilenia Senesi
- Anna Cavazzana
- Stefania Spila Alegiani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0656-1346)
- Sara Lopes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4322-8529)
- Chiara Bellitto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5552-1506)
- Silvana Anna Maria Urru (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6213-1290)
- Marco Tuccori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7979-8486)
- Stefano Ledda
- Gianluca Trifirò (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1147-7296)
- Carla Sorrentino
- Olivia Leoni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6906-2424)
- Paolo Stella
- Alessandra Allotta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2397-4977)
- Giovambattista De Sarro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7629-6579)
- Rosa Gini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6250-877X)
- Andrea Spini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7496-5575)
- Lucian Ejlli
- Angela Scapin
- Paola Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7749-9711)
- Giorgio Costa
- Roberto Da (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3416-6714)
- Clément Mathieu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3615-148X)
- Antea Maria Pia Mangano
- Federica Soardo
- Rita Francesca Scarpelli
- Francesco Balducci
Institutions
- University of Verona (IT)
- University of Teramo (IT)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Magna Graecia University (IT)
- Bordeaux Population Health (FR)
- Provincia Autonoma di Trento (IT)
- Agenzia Sanitaria e Sociale Regionale (IT)
- Regione Siciliana (IT)
- Regione Puglia (IT)
- National Observatory (BR)
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Catanzaro (IT)
- Regione del Veneto (IT)
- Agenzia Regionale di Sanità della Toscana (IT)
- Agenzia Sanitaria Regionale Abruzzo (IT)
- Regione Emilia-Romagna
- Regione Autonoma della Sardegna
- Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT)
- Regione Umbria
Publication Details
- Journal
- BioDrugs
- Published
- 2025-04-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-025-00716-2
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.34
Funders
- Università degli Studi di Verona
- Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, Ministero della Salute