Investigating Real-World Benztropine Usage Patterns in Movement Disorders: Claims Analysis and Health Care Provider Survey Results

Objective: To evaluate real-world treatment patterns for patients initiating benztropine and to understand treatment approaches in patients with drug- induced movement disorders from a health care provider perspective. Methods: A retrospective claims analysis was conducted among patients with evidence of benztropine initiation from January 2017 through March 2020 to assess treatment patterns and patient health care resource utilization. Subsequently, a 30-minute, United States-based online survey fielded from December 2021 to January 2022 was sent to physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who reported a primary care or psychiatry specialty currently >3 months or used in tardive dyskinesia. treating drug-induced movement disorders and prescribed benztropine. Results: The health care claims analysis included 112,542 patients, Polypharmacy and multiple comorbidities were frequent characteristics in this population; 54.1% of patients had ≥2 comorbidities at baseline and 59.1% had claims for >10 medications. Benztropine was used for >3 months in >50% of the population. Health care costs and resource utilization were high, with mean all-cause pharmacy and outpatient costs totaling $11,755. Survey resuits from 349 primary care or psychiatry health care providers indicated that benztropine is often used in non-tardive dyskinesia drug-induced movement disorders but frequently continued for In this study, psychiatry providers prescribed benztropine in line with guideline recommendations more often than primary care providers; however, <40% indicated familiarity with 2020 American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment, of Patients with Schizophrenia. Conclusions: These complementary analyses suggest that benztropine is used long-term in non-tardive dyskinesia drug-induced movement disorders and in tardive dyskinesia despite risks of worsening tardive dyskinesia or adverse effects.