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Amdisen L, Pedersen L, Abildgaard N, Benn CS, Rørth M, Cronin-Fenton D, Sørup S. The coverage of influenza vaccination and predictors of influenza non-vaccination in Danish cancer patients: A nationwide register-based cohort study. Vaccine 2024; 42:1690-1697. [PMID: 38350769 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza vaccination is recommended and provided free-of-charge to Danish citizens aged ≥65 years and to individuals with acquired immunodeficiency. We aimed to estimate influenza vaccination coverage and investigate predictors of influenza non-vaccination in Danish cancer patients. METHODS A nationwide cohort study of all Danish citizens aged ≥18 years with an incident cancer diagnosis between 2002 and 2017. Using national registries, we assessed information on influenza vaccination and potential predictors of influenza non-vaccination. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of influenza non-vaccination for patients aged <65 years and ≥65 years. RESULTS We observed 269,863 patients during 840,876 influenza vaccination seasons. The influenza vaccination coverage was 14 % for cancer patients <65 years and 51 % for those ≥65 years. No influenza vaccination in the previous season was associated with non-vaccination in the current season (<65 years: aPR = 2.75, 95 %CI = 2.71-2.80; ≥65 years: aPR = 5.15, 95 %CI = 5.10-5.21). Haematological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy had lower vaccination prevalence compared with those not receiving chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The influenza vaccination coverage was low among cancer patients. Influenza non-vaccination in the previous season was the strongest predictor of not receiving influenza vaccination in the current season. Haematological cancer patients on current chemotherapy had lower vaccination prevalence than those not currently receiving chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lau Amdisen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Lars Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Niels Abildgaard
- Hematology Research Unit, Department of Hematology, Odense University Hospital and Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christine Stabell Benn
- Bandim Health Project, OPEN, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark,; Danish Institute of Advanced Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mikael Rørth
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Deirdre Cronin-Fenton
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Signe Sørup
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Gasoyan H, Fiala MA, Doering M, Vij R, Halpern M, Colditz GA. Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Treatment Patterns in the United States: A Systematic Review. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2023; 23:e420-e427. [PMID: 37659966 PMCID: PMC10844924 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
We performed a systematic review of the literature investigating the demographic and insurance-related factors linked to disparities in multiple myeloma (MM) care patterns in the United States from 2003 to 2021. Forty-six observational studies were included. Disparities in MM care patterns were reported based on patient race in 76% of studies (34 out of 45 that captured race as a study variable), ethnicity in 60% (12 out of 20), insurance in 77% (17 out of 22), and distance from treating facility, urbanicity, or geographic region in 62% (13 out of 21). A smaller proportion of studies identified disparities in MM care patterns based on other socioeconomic characteristics, with 36% (9 out of 25) identifying disparities based on income estimate or employment status and 43% (6 out of 14) based on language barrier or education-related factors. Sociodemographic characteristics are frequently associated with disparities in care for individuals diagnosed with MM. There is a need for further research regarding modifiable determinants to accessing care such as insurance plan design, patient out-of-pocket costs, preauthorization criteria, as well as social determinants of health. This information can be used to develop actionable strategies for reducing MM health disparities and enhancing timely and high-quality MM care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamlet Gasoyan
- Center for Value-Based Care Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Primary Care Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
| | - Mark A Fiala
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Michelle Doering
- Bernard Becker Medical Library, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ravi Vij
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Michael Halpern
- Healthcare Delivery Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Graham A Colditz
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
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Mitchell AP, Meza AM, Panageas KS, Lipitz-Snyderman A, Farooki A, Morris MJ. Real-world use of bone modifying agents in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2023; 26:126-132. [PMID: 35798857 PMCID: PMC10251421 DOI: 10.1038/s41391-022-00573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone modifying agents (BMAs) prevent skeletal related events among patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) involving bone and prevent osteoporotic fractures among patients at high risk. BMA utilization for patients with mCRPC has not been well quantified. METHODS We used linked SEER registry and Medicare claims data. We included men diagnosed with stage IV prostate adenocarcinoma during 2007-2015, aged > = 66 at diagnosis, with sufficient continuous enrollment in Medicare Parts A, B, and D, who received androgen deprivation therapy. We limited to those who subsequently received a CRPC-defining treatment (CDT). We identified patients with evidence of bone metastasis using claims. Our primary outcome was receipt of a BMA (zoledronic acid or denosumab) within 180 days of initiating CDT. RESULTS Among 1292 included patients, 1034 (80%) had bone metastasis. BMA use within 180 days of initiating CDT was higher among patients with bone metastases than those without (705/1034 [68%] vs 56/258 [22%]). Among patients without bone metastasis, those with high osteoporotic fracture risk were more likely than those without to receive a BMA (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.17, 5.29); however, only 26% of patients with high fracture risk received a BMA. Among patients who received BMAs, most (62%) first initiated them >90 days before initiating CDT. CONCLUSIONS Two-thirds of patients with mCRPC and bone metastases received BMAs within 180 days after initiating CDT. A greater proportion of patients without bone metastasis may warrant BMA therapy for osteoporotic fracture prevention. Some patients with bone metastasis may be able to delay BMA initiation until CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron P Mitchell
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine and Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Akriti Mishra Meza
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine S Panageas
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Allison Lipitz-Snyderman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Azeez Farooki
- Department of Medicine and Division of Subspecialty Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Morris
- Department of Medicine and Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Vardell VA, Ermann DA, Tantravahi SK, Haaland B, McClune B, Godara A, Mohyuddin GR, Sborov DW. Impact of academic medical center access on outcomes in multiple myeloma. Am J Hematol 2023; 98:41-48. [PMID: 36266759 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Treatment at academic cancer centers (ACs) is associated with improved survival across hematologic malignancies, though the benefit in multiple myeloma (MM) has not been examined. This study aims to evaluate survival outcomes at Commission on Cancer accredited ACs compared to non-academic centers (NACs) for patients receiving MM-directed therapy. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to identify demographics and overall survival (OS) of MM patients diagnosed from 2004 to 2017 and to compare outcomes by facility type. Survival analysis was repeated in a propensity score matched cohort, with NACs matched 1:1 to ACs by age, race, comorbidity score, insurance, year of diagnosis, distance traveled, and income. Of 163 375 MM patients, 44.5% were treated at ACs. Patients at ACs were more likely to receive MM-directed therapy compared to NACs (81% vs. 73%, p < .001). For patients receiving treatment, median OS at ACs was 71.3 months versus 41.2 months at NACs (p < .001). When adjusted for baseline demographics, patients treated at ACs had reduced mortality; hazard ratio (HR) 0.79 (95% CI 0.78-0.81, p < .001). The propensity score matched cohort maintained this survival benefit with a median OS of 59.9 months at ACs versus 37.0 months at NACs (p < .001), HR of 0.66 (95% CI 0.64-0.67, p < .001). ACs treated younger patients with fewer comorbidities and were more likely to treat racial minorities and patients with Medicaid or private insurance, and the uninsured. In this analysis, MM patients treated at ACs have significantly improved survival. While potentially related to access to specialized care, socioeconomic factors that drive facility selection may also contribute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria A Vardell
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Daniel A Ermann
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Srinivas K Tantravahi
- Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Benjamin Haaland
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Brian McClune
- Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Amandeep Godara
- Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ghulam Rehman Mohyuddin
- Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Douglas W Sborov
- Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Shah A, Juneja B, Dragun A, Kubicek G. The Impact of Race in the Palliative Treatment of Bone Metastases. Pract Radiat Oncol 2022; 12:464-467. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Management of Adverse Events and Supportive Therapy in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194978. [PMID: 34638462 PMCID: PMC8508369 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Multiple myeloma (MM) patients with relapsing and/or refractory (RR) disease are exposed for a prolonged time to multiple drugs, which increase the risk of toxicity. In addition to tumor response, preserving the quality of life represents an important goal for this patient population. Therefore, supportive therapy plays a pivotal role in their treatment by limiting disease- and drug-related complications. The aim of this review is to outline current standards and future strategies to prevent and treat renal insufficiency, anemia, bone disease, and infection, including COVID-19, in RRMM patients. In addition, the incidence and treatment of side effects of novel anti-MM agents will be discussed. Abstract Relapsed/refractory (RR) multiple myeloma (MM) patients are a fragile population because of prolonged drug exposure and advanced age. Preserving a good quality of life is of high priority for these patients and the treatment of disease- and treatment-related complications plays a key role in their management. By preventing and limiting MM-induced complications, supportive care improves patients’ outcome. Erythropoietin-stimulating agents and bisphosphonates are well-established supportive strategies, yet novel agents are under investigation, such as anabolic bone agents and activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) inhibitors. The recent dramatic changes in the treatment landscape of MM pose an additional challenge for the routine care of RRMM patients. Multidrug combinations in first and later lines increase the risk for long-lasting toxicities, including adverse cardiovascular and neurological events. Moreover, recently approved first-in-class drugs have unique side-effect profiles, such as ocular toxicity of belantamab mafodotin or gastrointestinal toxicity of selinexor. This review discusses current standards in supportive treatment of RRMM patients, including recommendations in light of the recent SARS-CoV-19 pandemic, and critically looks at the incidence and management of side effects of standard as well as next generation anti-MM agents.
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Zhou J, Sweiss K, Nutescu EA, Han J, Patel PR, Ko NY, Lee TA, Chiu BCH, Calip GS. Racial Disparities in Intravenous Bisphosphonate Use Among Older Patients With Multiple Myeloma Enrolled in Medicare. JCO Oncol Pract 2021; 17:e294-e312. [PMID: 33449809 PMCID: PMC8257921 DOI: 10.1200/op.20.00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates reduce the risk of skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, data describing racial differences in IV bisphosphonate utilization outside of clinical trial settings are limited. We evaluated population-level IV bisphosphonate initiation and discontinuation among patients of age ≥ 65 years with MM. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients of age ≥ 65 years diagnosed with first primary MM between 2001 and 2011. Patients were identified using the SEER-Medicare linked database and followed through December 2013. Cumulative incidences of IV bisphosphonate initiation and time to discontinuation among users were compared between racial and ethnic groups. In Fine and Gray competing risk models, we estimated subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) and 95% CIs for initiation and discontinuation. RESULTS We included 14,231 eligible patients with MM (median age, 76 years; 52% male). Over a median follow-up of 23.1 months, 54% of patients received at least one IV bisphosphonate dose. Our final analytical sample included 10,456 non-Hispanic (NH) Whites, 2,267 NH Blacks, 548 Asian and Pacific islanders, and 815 Hispanic and Latino patients. A higher proportion of White patients (56.1%) newly received IV bisphosphonates after MM diagnosis compared with NH Blacks (45.4%). Compared with White patients, NH Black patients were less likely to initiate IV bisphosphonates (SHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.79) and slightly more likely to discontinue treatment (SHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.19). CONCLUSION Approximately half of the patients with MM of age ≥ 65 years did not receive IV bisphosphonates, with significant delay among racial minority groups. These findings highlight the need for improvement of IV bisphosphonate uptake in patients with MM of age ≥ 65 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifang Zhou
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | | | - Jin Han
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Naomi Y. Ko
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Todd A. Lee
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Gregory S. Calip
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Flatiron Health, New York, NY
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Terpos E, Mikhael J, Hajek R, Chari A, Zweegman S, Lee HC, Mateos MV, Larocca A, Ramasamy K, Kaiser M, Cook G, Weisel KC, Costello CL, Elliott J, Palumbo A, Usmani SZ. Management of patients with multiple myeloma beyond the clinical-trial setting: understanding the balance between efficacy, safety and tolerability, and quality of life. Blood Cancer J 2021; 11:40. [PMID: 33602913 PMCID: PMC7891472 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-021-00432-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment options in multiple myeloma (MM) are increasing with the introduction of complex multi-novel-agent-based regimens investigated in randomized clinical trials. However, application in the real-world setting, including feasibility of and adherence to these regimens, may be limited due to varying patient-, treatment-, and disease-related factors. Furthermore, approximately 40% of real-world MM patients do not meet the criteria for phase 3 studies on which approvals are based, resulting in a lack of representative phase 3 data for these patients. Therefore, treatment decisions must be tailored based on additional considerations beyond clinical trial efficacy and safety, such as treatment feasibility (including frequency of clinic/hospital attendance), tolerability, effects on quality of life (QoL), and impact of comorbidities. There are multiple factors of importance to real-world MM patients, including disease symptoms, treatment burden and toxicities, ability to participate in daily activities, financial burden, access to treatment and treatment centers, and convenience of treatment. All of these factors are drivers of QoL and treatment satisfaction/compliance. Importantly, given the heterogeneity of MM, individual patients may have different perspectives regarding the most relevant considerations and goals of their treatment. Patient perspectives/goals may also change as they move through their treatment course. Thus, the 'efficacy' of treatment means different things to different patients, and treatment decision-making in the context of personalized medicine must be guided by an individual's composite definition of what constitutes the best treatment choice. This review summarizes the various factors of importance and practical issues that must be considered when determining real-world treatment choices. It assesses the current instruments, methodologies, and recent initiatives for analyzing the MM patient experience. Finally, it suggests options for enhancing data collection on patients and treatments to provide a more holistic definition of the effectiveness of a regimen in the real-world setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Terpos
- Plasma Cell Dyscrasias Unit, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
| | - Joseph Mikhael
- Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery, Translational Genomics Research Institute, City of Hope Cancer Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Roman Hajek
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, University Hospital Ostrava, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Ajai Chari
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sonja Zweegman
- Department of Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans C Lee
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - María-Victoria Mateos
- Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Salamanca, IBSAL, CIC, IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alessandra Larocca
- Myeloma Unit, Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Karthik Ramasamy
- Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, RDM, Oxford University, NIHR BRC Blood Theme, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin Kaiser
- Department of Haematology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, and Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK
| | - Gordon Cook
- Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Katja C Weisel
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Caitlin L Costello
- Department of Medicine, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Elliott
- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Antonio Palumbo
- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Saad Z Usmani
- Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte, NC, USA
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Saphire ML, Prsic EH, Canavan ME, Wang SYJ, Presley CJ, Davidoff AJ. Patterns of Symptom Management Medication Receipt at End-of-Life Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Lung Cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 59:767-777.e1. [PMID: 31778783 PMCID: PMC7338983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Older adults with advanced lung cancer experience high symptom burden at end of life (EOL), yet hospice enrollment often happens late or not at all. Receipt of medications to manage symptoms in the outpatient setting, outside the Medicare hospice benefit, has not been described. OBJECTIVES We examined patterns of symptom management medication receipt at EOL for older adults who died of lung cancer. METHODS This retrospective cohort used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database to identify decedents diagnosed with lung cancer at age 67 years and older between January 2008 and December 2013 who survived six months and greater after diagnosis. Using Medicare Part B and D claims, we identified monthly receipt of outpatient medications for symptomatic management of pain, emotional distress, fatigue, dyspnea, anorexia, and nausea/vomiting. Multivariable logistic regression estimated associations between medication receipt and patient demographic characteristics, comorbidity, and concurrent therapy. RESULTS Of the 16,246 included patients, large proportions received medications for dyspnea (70.7%), pain (62.5%), and emotional distress (49.4%), with lower prevalence for other symptoms. Medication receipt increased from six months to one month before death. Women and dual Medicaid enrolled were more likely to receive medications for pain, emotional distress, dyspnea, and nausea/vomiting. Receipt of symptom management medications decreased with increasing age and racial/ethnical minorities. CONCLUSION Symptom management medication receipt was common and increasing toward EOL. Lower use by males, older adults, and nonwhites may reflect poor access or poor patient-provider communication. Further research is needed to understand these patterns and assess adequacy of symptom management in the outpatient setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen L Saphire
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Maureen E Canavan
- Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center (COPPER), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Shi-Yi J Wang
- Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center (COPPER), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Carolyn J Presley
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA; Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center (COPPER), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Amy J Davidoff
- Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center (COPPER), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
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