End of an era of administering erythropoiesis stimulating agents among Veterans Administration cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Journal
PLoS One
Volume
15
Issue
6
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0234541
Abstract
Erythropoisis stimulating agent (ESA) use was addressed in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) meetings between 2004 and 2008. FDA safety-focused regulatory actions occurred in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, black box warnings advised of early death and venous thromboembolism (VTE) risks with ESAs in oncology. In 2010, a Risk Evaluation Strategies (REMS) was initiated, with cancer patient consent that mortality and VTE risks were noted with ESAs. We report warnings and REMS impacts on ESA utilization among Veterans Administration (VA) cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). Data were from Veterans Affairs database (2003-2012). Epoetin and darbepoetin use were primary outcomes. Segmented linear regression was used to estimate changes in ESA use levels and trends, clinical appropriateness, and adverse events (VTEs) among chemotherapy-treated cancer patients. To estimate changes in level of drug prescription rate after policy actions, model-specific indicator variables as covariates based on specific actions were included. ESA use fell by 95% and 90% from 2005, for epoetin and darbepoetin, from 22% and 11%, respectively, to 1% and 1%, respectively, among cancer patients with CIA, respectively (p
APA Citation
Hoque, S., Chen, B., Schoen, M., Carson, K., Keller, J., Witherspoon, B., Knopf, K., Yang, Y., Schooley, B., Nabhan, C., Sartor, O., Yarnold, P., Ray, P., Bobolts, L., Hrushesky, W., Dickson, M., & Bennett, C. (2020). End of an era of administering erythropoiesis stimulating agents among Veterans Administration cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.. PLoS One, 15 (6). http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234541
Peer Reviewed
1
Open Access
1
Comments
This is an open access PubMed Central article.