Healthcare resource utilization and costs in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes treated with hypomethylating agents: a SEER-Medicare analysis

Aims To describe healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated hypomethylating agents (HMA) based on HMA-treatment response.Materials methods SEER-Medicare data (January 2006–December 2016) were used to identify adults diagnosed MDS (SEER: January 2009–December 2015) initiated HMA (index date). success (indicators: ?7 cycles, stem cell transplantation, transfusion independence) or failure acute myeloid leukemia [AML], AML-like treatment, death) was determined using a claim-based algorithm. HRU assessed from the index date 1-year post-index, overall stratified by failure. Among failure, also post-failure.Results The study included 3,046 (mean age: 77.4 years; females: 36.8%). Rates of 44.4% 76.2%, respectively (20.6% had then failure). Overall, 15.2 inpatient admissions per-100-patients-per-month (median follow-up: 5.9 months). Patients 7.5 12.0 months), while those 20.4 35.3 pre- post-HMA-treatment 4.3 1.8 months, respectively). Mean total $12,494 per-patient-per-month overall, $8,069 among success, $13,809 $19,242 respectively. Outpatient (68.3%) main contributor (80.3%) cost driver failure.Limitations Without available laboratory test results, clinical indicators observed claims assess response.Conclusions Over 75% failed within 6 months initiation more than translating into substantially higher costs. results an important economic burden patients.