Utilization of agents to prevent skeletal-related events among patients with multiple myeloma: analysis of real-world data

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined real-world utilization patterns of bone-targeted agents (BTA) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, adults with an MM diagnosis recorded in 2012–2014 were identified from electronic health records in the Oncology Services Comprehensive Electronic Records (OSCER) database. Patients received zoledronic acid (ZA) or pamidronate (PA) on/after first MM diagnosis recorded in the study period, had no BTA use in prior 6 months, and were followed through earliest of May 31, 2015 or last clinic visit. Patients with any solid tumor diagnosis were excluded. Time to BTA initiation, compliance (≥ 12 administrations in a year), switching, and non-persistence (switch or ≥ 90-day gap in therapy) were described by agent and follow-up period.

Results

Among 9,617 patients with MM, 3,735 (38.8%) received a BTA. Most patients (90.9%) received ZA, with first BTA use generally seen within 3 months of first observed MM diagnosis (ZA 76.1%, PA 75.1%). A minority of ZA (27.4%) and PA (23.0%) patients were compliant in Year 1, with lower compliance in Year 2 (19.8% and 15.6%, respectively). The median time to non-persistence was 16.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.4–17.4) months for ZA and 13.8 (95% CI 11.5–15.4) months for PA. Persistence was 86% at 6 months and 34% at 24 months for ZA, and 77% and 30% for PA, respectively.

Conclusions

These results highlight the possibility of suboptimal prevention of skeletal-related events due to non-compliant dosing and non-persistence after patients initiate BTA therapy.

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