Real-world clinical resource utilization of metastatic prostate cancer patients in the United States: Results from two large claims databases

204 Background: In metastatic prostate cancer (MPC) patients, treatment options include hormonal therapies, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This study quantifies the real-world healthcare resource utilization of MPC patients. Methods: Health insurance claims from 40 self-insured companies across the US (Employer [E]; 01/1999-02/2009), and from the Medicare 5% ([M]; 1999-2008) databases were analyzed. Patients with a metastasis diagnosis (ICD-9: 196-199) following 2 prostate cancer diagnoses (ICD-9: 185, V10.46) within 365 days were identified. Patients with other malignant diagnoses at baseline, defined as 365 days prior to metastasis diagnosis (index date), were excluded. Patients were evaluated for baseline medical history and for chemotherapy, hormonal agents, radiation, and corticosteroids utilization during both baseline and observation periods. Hospitalization rates and prostate cancer-related procedures post index date were also reported. Results: The study population comprised 11,725 patients (E: 3,227; M: 8,498). Mean age (SD) was 72.8 (10.2) in Employer and 78.1 (7.7) in Medicare. Mean observation period (SD) was 803 (753) days in Employer and 9.2 (8.2) quarters in Medicare. During the baseline period, chemotherapy, hormonal agents, radiation therapy, and corticosteroids were administered to 5%, 52%, 9%, and 21% of Employer, and 2%, 45%, 8%, and 12% of Medicare patients respectively, whereas these interventions increased to 22%, 55%, 39%, and 46% for Employer, and to 21%, 50%, 33%, and 29% for Medicare during the observation period. A total of 66% Employer and 79% Medicare patients were hospitalized post index date. Most patients (E: 92%; M: 98%) had prostate cancer-related procedures, including prostate specific-antigen testing (E: 39%; M: 80%), computerized axial tomography scan (E: 72%; M: 81%), prostate biopsy (E: 47%; M: 54%), X-ray (E: 11%; M: 64%), bone scan (E: 56%; M: 60%), and magnetic resonance imaging scan (E: 35%; M: 37%). Conclusions: This observational study describes real-world utilization patterns in patients with advanced prostate cancer. [Table: see text]