Poor Survival, High Costs for Medicare Patients With Glioblastoma

In a study of Medicare patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, the median overall survival was 5.9 months for those who underwent surgical resection and 3 months for those who did not, according to findings published in Neuro-Oncology Practice. 

“Limited treatment options, poor survival, and economic burden emphasize the need for novel interventions to improve care for Medicare patients with glioblastoma,” wrote researchers from Pharmerit International, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

The retrospective observational study included 4308 Medicare patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data for 2007 through 2013. Patients were followed from diagnosis until death or the end of follow-up. The median age of patients was 74, and 52% had a Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 0 upon glioblastoma diagnosis.

The most prevalent first-line therapy was temozolomide (82%), according to the study. The most common second- and third-line therapy was chemotherapy plus bevacizumab (42% and 58%, respectively). 

After diagnosis, claims included an ICU admission for 86.2% of patients, a skilled nursing facility for 76.9% of patients, and home health for 56% of patients, the study found. Largely attributable to hospitalizations, the average total cost per patient during the follow-up period was $95,377, or $18,053 per patient per month, researchers reported. —Jolynn Tumolo