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Economic burden of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: Results from an international trial
Author(s) -
Robinson Don,
Orlowski Robert Z.,
Stokes Michael,
He Jianming,
Huse Samuel,
Chitnis Abhishek,
Kranenburg Britte,
Lam Annette
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/ejh.12876
Subject(s) - absenteeism , medicine , indirect costs , quality of life (healthcare) , multiple myeloma , multivariate analysis , clinical trial , physical therapy , randomized controlled trial , family medicine , nursing , business , accounting , management , economics
Objective The direct cost of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma ( RRMM ) is documented; indirect costs are being explored. Healthcare payers seek cost‐offsets from therapies that improve clinical outcomes but challenge budgets; employers seek lower absenteeism and better productivity. Study goals were to: (i) identify direct and indirect economic factors of RRMM , and (ii) explore longitudinal relationships between clinical, economic, and health‐related quality of life ( HRQ oL) assessments. Methods Economic questionnaire, clinical, and HRQ oL data from a multisite, international, randomized, controlled study in RRMM were analyzed. Results Patients (n=263) were 53.6% male, 91.6% Caucasian; mean age of 62.9 years, median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status of 1 (56.3%). Moderate to severe pain or fatigue was reported by 30.4% and 70.6%, respectively. At baseline, ≥1 hospitalization was reported by 107 (41.8%); 182 (71.1%) and 86 (33.6%) reported specialist and family physician visits, respectively. A total of 28 (10.8%) were working: 10 (37.0%) of which reported RRMM ‐driven absenteeism ≥1 day. Of those who were not working, 110 (48.2%) indicated that it was due to RRMM . Multivariate modeling showed lower hospitalization with a major tumor response (β=−1.44, CI : −2.89 to 0.01, P =.05). Conclusions Substantial RRMM indirect, social costs were observed. Better major tumor response may reduce hospital visits.