Immediate Administration of Zoledronic Acid Reduces Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women With Early Breast Cancer: 12-month analysis of the E-ZO-FAST trial.

BACKGROUND: Letrozole is a proven and effective adjuvant therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR(+)) early breast cancer (EBC). As with other aromatase inhibitors (AIs), long-term letrozole administration is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. This study compared potential bone-protecting effects of immediate vs. delayed administration of zoledronic acid (ZOL) in patients with EBC receiving adjuvant letrozole. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HR(+) EBC in whom adjuvant letrozole treatment was initiated (2.5 mg/day for 5 years) were randomized to immediate ZOL treatment (immediate ZOL) or delayed ZOL treatment (delayed ZOL) (both at 4 mg every 6 months). Patients in the delayed ZOL group received ZOL only for a BMD T-score that decreased to < -2.0 (lumbar spine [LS] or total hip [TH]) or for fracture. The primary endpoint was percentage change in the LS BMD at month 12. Patients were stratified by established or recent postmenopausal status, baseline T-scores, and adjuvant chemotherapy history. RESULTS: At 12 months, the LS BMD increased in the immediate ZOL group (+2.72%) but decreased in the delayed ZOL group (-2.71%); the absolute difference between groups was significant (5.43%; P < .0001). Across all subgroups, patients receiving immediate ZOL had significantly increased LS and TH BMD vs. those who received delayed ZOL (P < .0001). Differences in fracture incidence or disease recurrence could not be ascertained because of early data cutoff and low incidence of events. Adverse events were generally mild, transient, and consistent with the known safety profiles of both agents. CONCLUSION: Immediate ZOL administration effectively prevented BMD loss and increased BMD in postmenopausal women with HR(+) EBC receiving adjuvant letrozole, regardless of BMD status at baseline

Healthcare-resource utilization associated with radiation to bone across eight European countries: Results from a retrospective study

Background: Bone metastases and lytic lesions due to multiple myeloma are common in advanced cancer and can lead to debilitating complications (skeletal-related events [SREs]), including requirement for radiation to bone. Despite the high frequency of radiation to bone in patients with metastatic bone disease, our knowledge of associated healthcare resource utilization (HRU) is limited. Methods: This retrospective study estimated HRU following radiation to bone in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Eligible patients were ≥ 20 years old, had bone metastases secondary to breast, lung or prostate cancer, or bone lesions associated with multiple myeloma, and had received radiation to bone between 1 July 2004 and 1 July 2009. HRU data were extracted from hospital patient charts from 3.5 months before the index SRE (radiation to bone preceded by a SRE-free period of ≥ 6.5 months) until 3 months after the last SRE that the patient experienced during the study period. Results: In total, 482 patients were included. The number of inpatient stays increased from baseline by a mean of 0.52 (standard deviation [SD] 1.17) stays per radiation to bone event and the duration of stays increased by a mean of 7.8 (SD 14.8) days. Outpatient visits increased by a mean of 4.24 (SD 6.57) visits and procedures by a mean of 8.51 (SD 7.46) procedures. Conclusion: HRU increased following radiation to bone across all countries studied. Agents that prevent severe pain and delay the need for radiation have the potential to reduce the burden imposed on healthcare resources and patients

Pathologic fracture and healthcare resource utilisation: A retrospective study in eight European countries

Background Skeletal-related events (SREs; pathologic fracture [PF], spinal cord compression and radiation or surgery to bone) are common complications of bone metastases or bone lesions and can impose a considerable burden on patients and healthcare systems. In this study, the healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) associated with PFs in patients with bone metastases or lesions secondary to solid tumours or multiple myeloma was estimated in eight European countries. Methods Eligible patients were identified in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. HRU data were extracted from hospital charts from 3.5 months before the index PF (defined as a PF preceded by a 6.5-month period without a SRE) until 3 months after the last SRE during the study period. Changes from baseline in the number and duration of inpatient stays, number of outpatient visits and number of procedures provided were recorded. Results Overall, 118 patients with PFs of long bones (those longer than they are wide, e.g. the femur) and 241 patients with PFs of other bones were included. Overall, HRU was greater in patients with long bone PFs than in those with PFs of other bones. A higher proportion of patients with long bone PFs had multiple SREs (79.7%), and more of their SREs were considered to be linked (73.4%) compared with patients with PFs of other bones (51.0% and 47.2%, respectively). Conclusion The increased number and duration of inpatient stays for PFs of long bones compared with those for PFs of other bones may be due in part to the requirement for complicated and lengthy rehabilitation in patients with long bone PFs. Implementing strategies to delay or reduce the number of PFs experienced by patients with bone metastases or lesions may therefore reduce the associated HRU and patient burden.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

A retrospective study in eight European countries

Background Skeletal-related events (SREs; pathologic fracture [PF], spinal cord compression and radiation or surgery to bone) are common complications of bone metastases or bone lesions and can impose a considerable burden on patients and healthcare systems. In this study, the healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) associated with PFs in patients with bone metastases or lesions secondary to solid tumours or multiple myeloma was estimated in eight European countries. Methods Eligible patients were identified in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. HRU data were extracted from hospital charts from 3.5 months before the index PF (defined as a PF preceded by a 6.5-month period without a SRE) until 3 months after the last SRE during the study period. Changes from baseline in the number and duration of inpatient stays, number of outpatient visits and number of procedures provided were recorded. Results Overall, 118 patients with PFs of long bones (those longer than they are wide, e.g. the femur) and 241 patients with PFs of other bones were included. Overall, HRU was greater in patients with long bone PFs than in those with PFs of other bones. A higher proportion of patients with long bone PFs had multiple SREs (79.7%), and more of their SREs were considered to be linked (73.4%) compared with patients with PFs of other bones (51.0% and 47.2%, respectively). Conclusion The increased number and duration of inpatient stays for PFs of long bones compared with those for PFs of other bones may be due in part to the requirement for complicated and lengthy rehabilitation in patients with long bone PFs. Implementing strategies to delay or reduce the number of PFs experienced by patients with bone metastases or lesions may therefore reduce the associated HRU and patient burden.publishersversionpublishe

Healthcare-resource utilization associated with radiation to bone across eight European countries: Results from a retrospective study

Background: Bone metastases and lytic lesions due to multiple myeloma are common in advanced cancer and can lead to debilitating complications (skeletal-related events [SREs]), including requirement for radiation to bone. Despite the high frequency of radiation to bone in patients with metastatic bone disease, our knowledge of associated healthcare resource utilization (HRU) is limited. Methods: This retrospective study estimated HRU following radiation to bone in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Eligible patients were &gt;= 20 years old, had bone metastases secondary to breast, lung or prostate cancer, or bone lesions associated with multiple myeloma, and had received radiation to bone between 1 July 2004 and 1 July 2009. HRU data were extracted from hospital patient charts from 3.5 months before the index SRE (radiation to bone preceded by a SRE-free period of &gt;= 6.5 months) until 3 months after the last SRE that the patient experienced during the study period. Results: In total, 482 patients were included. The number of inpatient stays increased from baseline by a mean of 0.52 (standard deviation [SD] 1.17) stays per radiation to bone event and the duration of stays increased by a mean of 7.8 (SD 14.8) days. Outpatient visits increased by a mean of 4.24 (SD 6.57) visits and procedures by a mean of 8.51 (SD 7.46) procedures. Conclusion: HRU increased following radiation to bone across all countries studied. Agents that prevent severe pain and delay the need for radiation have the potential to reduce the burden imposed on healthcare resources and patients

Pathologic fracture and healthcare resource utilisation: A retrospective study in eight European countries

Background: Skeletal-related events (SREs; pathologic fracture [PF], spinal cord compression and radiation or surgery to bone) are common complications of bone metastases or bone lesions and can impose a considerable burden on patients and healthcare systems. In this study, the healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) associated with PFs in patients with bone metastases or lesions secondary to solid tumours or multiple myeloma was estimated in eight European countries. Methods: Eligible patients were identified in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. HRU data were extracted from hospital charts from 3.5 months before the index PF (defined as a PF preceded by a 6.5-month period without a SRE) until 3 months after the last SRE during the study period. Changes from baseline in the number and duration of inpatient stays, number of outpatient visits and number of procedures provided were recorded. Results: Overall, 118 patients with PFs of long bones (those longer than they are wide, e.g. the femur) and 241 patients with PFs of other bones were included. Overall, HRU was greater in patients with long bone PFs than in those with PFs of other bones. A higher proportion of patients with long bone PFs had multiple SREs (79.7%), and more of their SREs were considered to be linked (73.4%) compared with patients with PFs of other bones (51.0% and 47.2%, respectively). Conclusion: The increased number and duration of inpatient stays for PFs of long bones compared with those for PFs of other bones may be due in part to the requirement for complicated and lengthy rehabilitation in patients with long bone PFs. Implementing strategies to delay or reduce the number of PFs experienced by patients with bone metastases or lesions may therefore reduce the associated HRU and patient burden

Health resource utilization associated with skeletal-related events: results from a retrospective European study

Background Bone complications, also known as skeletal-related events (SREs), are common in patients with bone metastases secondary to advanced cancers. Objective To provide a detailed estimate of the health resource utilization (HRU) burden associated with SREs across eight European countries. Methods Eligible patients from centers in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland with bone metastases or lesions secondary to breast cancer, prostate, or lung cancer or multiple myeloma who had experienced at least one SRE (defined as radiation to bone, long-bone pathologic fracture, other bone pathologic fracture, surgery to bone or spinal cord compression) were entered into this study. HRU data were extracted retrospectively from the patients&apos; charts from 3.5 months before the index SRE until 3 months after the index SRE (defined as an SRE preceded by an SRE-free period of at least 6.5 months). Results Overall, the mean number of inpatient stays per SRE increased from baseline by approximately 0.5-1.5 stays, with increases in the total duration of inpatient stays of approximately 6-37 days per event. All SREs were associated with substantial increases from baseline in the frequency of procedures and the number of outpatient and day-care visits. Conclusions SREs are associated with substantial HRU owing to considerable increases in the number and duration of inpatient stays, and in the number of procedures, outpatient visits, and day-care visits. These data collectively provide a valuable summary of the real-world SRE burden on European healthcare systems

Health resource utilization associated with skeletal-related events: results from a retrospective European study

BACKGROUND Bone complications, also known as skeletal-related events (SREs), are common in patients with bone metastases secondary to advanced cancers. OBJECTIVE To provide a detailed estimate of the health resource utilization (HRU) burden associated with SREs across eight European countries. METHODS Eligible patients from centers in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland with bone metastases or lesions secondary to breast cancer, prostate, or lung cancer or multiple myeloma who had experienced at least one SRE (defined as radiation to bone, long-bone pathologic fracture, other bone pathologic fracture, surgery to bone or spinal cord compression) were entered into this study. HRU data were extracted retrospectively from the patients' charts from 3.5 months before the index SRE until 3 months after the index SRE (defined as an SRE preceded by an SRE-free period of at least 6.5 months). RESULTS Overall, the mean number of inpatient stays per SRE increased from baseline by approximately 0.5-1.5 stays, with increases in the total duration of inpatient stays of approximately 6-37 days per event. All SREs were associated with substantial increases from baseline in the frequency of procedures and the number of outpatient and day-care visits. CONCLUSIONS SREs are associated with substantial HRU owing to considerable increases in the number and duration of inpatient stays, and in the number of procedures, outpatient visits, and day-care visits. These data collectively provide a valuable summary of the real-world SRE burden on European healthcare systems