10-Year Resource Utilization and Costs for Cardiovascular Care

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) imparts a heavy economic burden on the U.S. health care system. Evidence regarding the long-term costs after comprehensive CVD screening is limited. Objectives: This study calculated 10-year health care costs for 6,814 asymptomatic participants enrolled in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), a registry sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. Methods: Cumulative 10-year costs for CVD medications, office visits, diagnostic procedures, coronary revascularization, and hospitalizations were calculated from detailed follow-up data. Costs were derived by using Medicare nationwide and zip code–specific costs, inflation corrected, discounted at 3% per year, and presented in 2014 U.S. dollars. Results: Risk factor prevalence increased dramatically and, by 10 years, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia was reported in 19%, 57%, and 53%, respectively. Self-reported symptoms (i.e., chest pain or shortness of breath) were common (approximately 40% of enrollees). At 10 years, approximately one-third of enrollees reported having an echocardiogram or exercise test, whereas 7% underwent invasive coronary angiography. These utilization patterns resulted in 10-year health care costs of $23,142. The largest proportion of costs was associated with CVD medication use (78$2 of every $10 were spent for outpatient visits and diagnostic testing among the elderly, obese, those with a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level \u3e3 mg/l, or coronary artery calcium score (CACS) ≥400. Costs varied widely from \u3c$7,700 for low-risk (Framingham risk score \u3c6%, 0 CACS, and normal glucose measurements at baseline) to \u3e$35,800 for high-risk (persons with diabetes, Framingham risk score ≥20$74 million of the $155 million consumed by MESA participants. Conclusions: Longitudinal patterns of health care resource use after screening revealed new evidence on the economic burden of treatment and testing patterns not previously reported. Maintenance of a healthy population has the potential to markedly reduce the economic burden of CVD among asymptomatic individuals

Fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin with gemtuzumab ozogamicin improves event-free survival in younger patients with newly diagnosed aml and overall survival in patients with npm1 and flt3 mutations

Purpose To determine the optimal induction chemotherapy regimen for younger adults with newly diagnosed AML without known adverse risk cytogenetics. Patients and Methods One thousand thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to intensified (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin [FLAG-Ida]) or standard (daunorubicin and Ara-C [DA]) induction chemotherapy, with one or two doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Results There was no difference in remission rate after two courses between FLAG-Ida + GO and DA + GO (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery 93% v 91%) or in day 60 mortality (4.3% v 4.6%). There was no difference in OS (66% v 63%; P = .41); however, the risk of relapse was lower with FLAG-Ida + GO (24% v 41%; P < .001) and 3-year event-free survival was higher (57% v 45%; P < .001). In patients with an NPM1 mutation (30%), 3-year OS was significantly higher with FLAG-Ida + GO (82% v 64%; P = .005). NPM1 measurable residual disease (MRD) clearance was also greater, with 88% versus 77% becoming MRD-negative in peripheral blood after cycle 2 (P = .02). Three-year OS was also higher in patients with a FLT3 mutation (64% v 54%; P = .047). Fewer transplants were performed in patients receiving FLAG-Ida + GO (238 v 278; P = .02). There was no difference in outcome according to the number of GO doses, although NPM1 MRD clearance was higher with two doses in the DA arm. Patients with core binding factor AML treated with DA and one dose of GO had a 3-year OS of 96% with no survival benefit from FLAG-Ida + GO. Conclusion Overall, FLAG-Ida + GO significantly reduced relapse without improving OS. However, exploratory analyses show that patients with NPM1 and FLT3 mutations had substantial improvements in OS. By contrast, in patients with core binding factor AML, outcomes were excellent with DA + GO with no FLAG-Ida benefit

Response to ruxolitinib in patients with intermediate-1-, intermediate-2-, and high-risk myelofibrosis: results of the UK ROBUST Trial

Myelofibrosis is characterized by splenomegaly and debilitating constitutional symptoms that negatively impact patients’ quality of life. ROBUST, a UK, open-label, phase II study, evaluated the safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis (N = 48), including intermediate-1 risk patients. The primary composite endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving treatment success [≥50% reduction in palpable spleen length and/or a ≥50% decrease in Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (MF-SAF TSS)] at 48 weeks. This was the first time that efficacy of ruxolitinib in myelofibrosis has been evaluated based on these criteria and the first time the MF-SAF was used in a population of patients solely from the United Kingdom. Overall, 50% of patients and 57% of intermediate-1 risk patients, achieved treatment success; reductions in spleen length and symptoms were observed in all risk groups. The majority of patients (66�7%) experienced ≥50% reductions from baseline in spleen length at any time. Improvements in MF-SAF TSS were seen in 80�0%, 72�7%, and 72�2% of intermediate-1, intermediate-2, and high-risk patients, respectively. Consistent with other studies of ruxolitinib, the most common haematological adverse events were anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Results indicate that most patients with myelofibrosis, including intermediate-1 risk patients, may benefit from ruxolitinib treatment