Healthcare resource utilization in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms: a nationwide matched cohort study

• Background: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are associated with severe complications and a substantial symptom burden – frequently emerging several years before diagnosis. Due to the chronic nature ofthe diseases, MPN patients have a lifelong need for treatment and care. However, only few studies have assessed MPN healthcare resource utilization (HRU) compared with matched cohorts, and no detailed assessments of HRU in the years preceding MPN diagnosis exist.Aims: To assess the pre- and post-diagnostic HRU of MPN patients compared with matched cohorts of nonMPN comparisons.Methods: We conducted this descriptive, register-based nationwide cohort study, utilizing data from the Danish National Chronic Myeloid Neoplasia Registry on all MPN patients diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2016, and data on HRU from the Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish National Health Service Registry. Populationbased cohorts of nonMPN comparisons were constructed by 1:10 matchingon age, sex, level of education, and region of residence. Data were linkedusing the unique civil registration number, which identifies all Danish citizens. HRU was summarized over each year for all cohorts from twoyears before date of MPN diagnosis and until emigration, death, or endof study (31 December 2017). HRU was calculated as annual number ofhealthcare contacts (inpatient days, outpatient consultations, treatmentsand examinations, and general practitioner [GP] visits) divided by person-years at risk and compared using rate ratios with 95% CI.Results: The study population included 3,342 MPN patients (1,140 essential thrombocythemia [ET]; 1,109 polycythemia vera [PV]; 533 primary myelofibrosis [PMF]; and 560 unspecified MPN [MPN-U]) and 32,737 nonMPN comparisons (11,181 nonET; 10,873 nonPV; 5,217 nonPMF; and 5,466 nonMPN-U). The median age was 67 (ET), 69 (PV), 73 (PMF), and 72 years (MPN-U), and the mean follow-up was 3.8 (ET), 3.8(PV), 3.1 (PMF), and 3.3 years (MPN-U). A total of 750 (22.4%) MPNpatients and 4,627 (14.1%) nonMPN comparisons died during follow-up.In nearly all years of follow-up, MPN patients had a higher HRU thannonMPN comparisons (Figure, rate ratio>1). Rate ratios for outpatientconsultations were largest at the time of diagnosis: ET, 2.7 (95%CI, 2.6-2.9); PV, 3.4 (95%CI, 3.2-3.6); PMF, 4.0 (95%CI, 3.7-4.4); and MPN-U,3.7 (95%CI, 3.4-4.0). For most MPN subtypes, rate ratios also peaked attime of diagnosis for treatment and examinations. In contrast, the largest rate ratio for PV was in the last year of follow-up: 3.5 (95%CI, 2.8-4.3). Across MPN subtypes, rate ratios for GP visits varied from 1.0 to1.5 during follow-up without any considerable fluctuations. Interestingly, increased rate ratios for inpatients days were evident 2 years before diagnosis: ET, 1.8 (95%CI, 1.7-1.9); PV, 1.3, (95%CI, 1.2-1.3); PMF, 1.4(95%CI, 1.2-1.5); and MPN-U, 1.7 (95%CI, 1.6-1.9). During follow-up,notable increases in rate ratios were observed, e.g., PMF 3.0 (95%CI 2.4-3.6) and PV 3.8 (95%CI 3.0-4.8) in year 5 and 7, respectively.Summary/Conclusion: Overall, compared with matched nonMPN comparisons, MPN patients had a higher HRU throughout the study period. This was consistent across MPN subtypes and HRU measures. Within the limitations of small numbers toward end of follow-up and lack ofmatching on comorbidity, our findings confirmed a consistent HRU burden after MPN diagnosis. Equally important, our study revealed substantial increases in HRU two years before MPN diagnosis, warrantingfurther exploration of the pre-diagnostic period, including the potentialbenefits of early detection.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Hematologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Hematology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Hematology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)