title: Real-world outcome and healthcare costs of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: A retrospective analysis from the Chinese experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to retrospectively investigate the real-world outcome and healthcare costs associated with the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in a Chinese single center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted for 93 patients between January 2008 and December 2013 in a Chinese hematology department. Total monthly costs attributable to each cost component were described across all regimens and for bortezomib-based treatment regimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total cost per patient-month ($1139.85) varied depending on the sequence of therapy (range: mean $51.63-$6600.96). Drugs and hospital visit were the most and the least consumed resource (65.48% and 2.87%, respectively). Mean total monthly costs were $2071.96 (range: $679.73-$6600.96) and $551.14 (range: $51.63-$1698.59) for patients receiving bortezomib and patients not receiving bortezomib, respectively. Differences between the two groups were significant for drugs; drugs costs were higher for patients treated with bortezomib. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a longer overall survival (mean [median] 31.43 [25] vs. 21.93 [18] months) for patients treated with bortezomib.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Real-world costs during treatment of RRMM varied greatly. Total costs during bortezomib-based regimens are significantly higher compared with non-bortezomib regimens. Further multi-center studies are needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of bortezomib for the treatment of RRMM in China.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Wuxi People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University , Wuxi , China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Wuxi People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University , Wuxi , China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Wuxi People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University , Wuxi , China.
authors.forename: Jingjue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Wuxi People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University , Wuxi , China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Wuxi People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University , Wuxi , China.
authors.forename: Xifeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Wuxi People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University , Wuxi , China.
authors.forename: Hongfeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D000069286:Bortezomib / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D002681:China; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000069286:Bortezomib
keywords: Bortezomib; China; Cost; Multiple myeloma; Relapsed or refractory