The Clinical and Economic Impact of Pharmacogenomic Testing of Warfarin Therapy in Typical Community Practice Settings (MHSMayoWarf1)

Medco Health Solutions

Status: Completed

Conditions: Thromboembolism; Venous Thromboembolism; Embolism; Thrombosis; Embolism and Thrombosis; Warfarin; Vascular Diseases

Treatments: Other: CYP 2C9 and VKORC1 Testing for Warfarin

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT00830570

MedcoWarfarin1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this quasi-experiment study, which could also be classified as a prospective observational intervention study, is to assess the impact of cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP 2C9) and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 (VKORC1) testing within a primary patient care setting.

Full description

Anticoagulation therapy with warfarin is the most common mode of treatment and prophylaxis for venous and arterial thromboembolic conditions. Warfarin is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 system, the cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP 2C9) isoenzyme specifically, and polymorphisms in the CYP 2C9 gene have been associated with changes in metabolic function of the translated isoenzyme . These polymorphisms result in reduced metabolism of warfarin as compared to subjects having the wild type gene, consequently leading to systemic accumulation of warfarin; it is theorized that this leads to higher risk of adverse events. Other allelic variations have also been linked to changes in vitamin K conservation through their effects on vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 (VKORC1) . The combined impact of CYP 2C9 and VKORC1 polymorphisms on warfarin's pharmacology have recently been reported.

It is hypothesized that evaluation of genomic allelic type guided warfarin dosing will reduce thromboembolic and bleeding risks associated with warfarin therapy, and that adoption of a genetic testing strategy in a primary patient care setting would improve warfarin effectiveness and patient safety, and reduce costs to health care payers.

Enrollment: 1,635 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female and male age range of 40-75
• Patients who are in the induction phase of warfarin
• Patients receiving warfarin to prevent or treat thromboembolic conditions (e.g., post orthopedic surgery prophylaxis, deep venous thrombosis, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, heart failure)
• Patient willing to provide informed consent prior to the specimen collection procedure
• Patient whose physician is willing to order the genetic test

Exclusion criteria

• Age < 40 or > 75
• Previous use of warfarin within 180 days of initiating new warfarin therapy
• Hospitalized for seven or more days before first claim for warfarin
• Previous history of genetic testing for warfarin therapy
• Known hypersensitivity to warfarin
• Patient or physician refusal to participate in the study
• Patients using warfarin residing in Olmsted County, MN

Trial design

1,635 participants in 3 patient groups

1

Description:

Historical control group. Patients in this group are drawn from the same plan populations as the intervention group, but they are identified during the 1-year period prior to the start of patient enrollment in the intervention group. The historical control group is closely matched with the intervention group on demographic characteristics, practice patterns, and benefit plan features that may affect resource utilization.

2

Description:

Concurrent control group. Patients in this group are drawn from different set of plan populations, but they initiate warfarin treatment during the same time period as patients in the intervention group. Outcomes data for the concurrent control group will be used to evaluate whether any differences between the intervention group and the historical control group can be attributed to changes in clinical practice over time. Baseline data for the concurrent control group will help validate the incidence assumptions used in the calculation of statistical power. This use of baseline population norms is an effective means of limiting bias in quasi-experimental studies.

3

Description:

Active study group. For plans participating in the active arm of the study, enrollment is offered to every patient who initiates warfarin therapy during the enrollment period (beginning in July 2007) and who meets the eligibility criteria. Patients are identified for the active study group if they have a warfarin pharmacy claim and no prior warfarin claims during the preceding 180 days. Only patients who remain eligible for the pharmacy benefit throughout the study period are included in the final sample.

Treatment:

Other: CYP 2C9 and VKORC1 Testing for Warfarin