title: Epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa for the treatment of chemotherapy-related anemia in cancer patients in Sweden: comparative analysis of drug utilization, costs, and hematologic response.
abstract: A retrospective chart review was performed at 3 Swedish hospitals to evaluate the utilization, outcomes, and cost of using epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa to treat cancer patients with chemotherapy-related anemia. Data on dosage, duration of treatment, hematologic response, red blood cell transfusions, and healthcare resource consumption were collected and analyzed at various time points following the initiation of drug therapy. A significantly faster hematologic response and increase in hemoglobin were observed in patients treated with epoetin alfa. Dosages used in clinical practice appeared to be lower than those recommended by Swedish treatment guidelines. There were no significant differences in resource utilization or healthcare costs between the 2 treatment groups. By day 112, the mean treatment cost per patient, in Swedish kronors (SEK), was SEK74,701 (approximately US$9800 or approximately 8300) with epoetin alfa and SEK85,285 (approximately US$11,000 or approximately 9500) with darbepoetin alfa. Drug acquisition and administration accounted for 81% and 67% of the total cost of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa therapy, respectively; the remainder of the total cost was for hospitalization and transfusions.
authors.affiliation: IHE, The Swedish Institute for Health Economics, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: Sixten
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: Tor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franksson
authors.forename: Signe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friesland
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D016527:Drug Costs; D004363:Drug Utilization; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006397:Hematinics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa