Real-world data detailing the costs of azacitidine treatment in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/low blast–count acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is lacking despite this being the standard for care (JCO Oncology Practice. 2020;OP2000446. doi:10.1200/OP.20.00446).
Researchers explored costs associated with higher-risk MDS/low blast–count AML patients by linking the Ontario Azacitidine MDS registry with population-based health system administrative databases.
Patients were observed for 24 months and censored at the earliest of 90 days after several parameters and costs were analyzed.
A total of 877 patients were identified in the registry. The mean standard 28-day cost per patient was $17,638 (median, $15,272; interquartile range [IQR], $11,869-$19,580) and $13,450 (median, $11,043; IQR, $7,981-$14,882) excluding the cost of azacitidine.
Researchers noted that cancer clinic visits and inpatient care were the main nondrug drivers of cost (mean standardized 28-day cost, $4,631; median, $1,558; IQR, $238-$4,961). Additionally, transfusion dependence at azacitidine initiation (P = .001) and greater comorbid disease burden (P = .009) were independently associated with increased cost.
“Our cohort of patients with uniformly higher-risk MDS/low blast–count AML treated with AZA demonstrates substantial costs of care above and beyond the cost of AZA alone. These results provide insight into the costs of AZA in the real world with implications for resource allocation,” concluded Dr Mozessohn and colleagues.—Lisa Kuhns
