Transfusion Healthcare Resource Utilization and Associated Impact of Quality of Life Among Patients With Myelofibrosis and Anemia: A Multinational Real-World Survey
Author(s)
John Mascarenhas, MD1, Katie Lewis, BSc2, Hannah Wear, MSc2, Robert Stellhorn, BA, MS3, Shalon Jones, PharmD, MPH3, Dorothy Zissler, PharmD3, Sara Vergara, MD3, Yeran Li, PhD3.
1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom, 3Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom, 3Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Myelofibrosis patients often receive red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) to treat anemia; however, the emotional and physical burden of RBCTs is insufficiently explored. This real-world study assessed RBCT impact on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and quality of life (QoL) of patients with myelofibrosis-associated anemia.
METHODS: Data were collected from the Adelphi Real-World Myelofibrosis Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey with retrospective data collection in Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States between 06/2024 and 01/2025. Physicians reported clinical details for their patients via chart review. Patients voluntarily provided data on HCRU and QoL via FACT-An (a seven-point difference is clinically meaningful). Analyses were descriptive.
RESULTS: Among 139 patients, median (IQR) age was 68.0 (62.0-73.0) years and 64% were male. Using IPSS/DIPSS risk categories, patients were classified into intermediate-2 and high-risk myelofibrosis (32% and 18% respectively). 73% were transfusion independent (TI), 13% were transfusion requiring (TR) and 14% were transfusion dependent (TD). Mean (SD) hemoglobin levels (g/dL) for TD patients were 9.7 (1.28) vs 10.2 (1.64) for TI patients. Regarding patient burden, 21% reported RBCTs were inconvenient due to mode of administration with 42% of TD patients reporting RBCTs too time-consuming to complete daily tasks. Overall, 33% spent >4 hours per week receiving RBCTs, and 32% spent >4 hours traveling to appointments. TD patients reported experiencing anxiety during transfusions (37%) and 21% reported RBCTs not reducing symptom severity. Mean (SD) FACT-An Fatigue scores were 29.8 (11.61), 32.4 (6.58) and 35.0 (9.26) for TD, TR and TI patients, respectively. Mean (SD) FACT-An Anemia scores were 104.6 (28.07), 121.5 (19.72) and 123.6 (27.08) for TD, TR and TI patients, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the emotional and physical burden of RBCTs in patients with myelofibrosis-associated anemia, indicating the need for treatments that maintain TI and reduce RBCT burden to improve the QoL in this indication.
METHODS: Data were collected from the Adelphi Real-World Myelofibrosis Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey with retrospective data collection in Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States between 06/2024 and 01/2025. Physicians reported clinical details for their patients via chart review. Patients voluntarily provided data on HCRU and QoL via FACT-An (a seven-point difference is clinically meaningful). Analyses were descriptive.
RESULTS: Among 139 patients, median (IQR) age was 68.0 (62.0-73.0) years and 64% were male. Using IPSS/DIPSS risk categories, patients were classified into intermediate-2 and high-risk myelofibrosis (32% and 18% respectively). 73% were transfusion independent (TI), 13% were transfusion requiring (TR) and 14% were transfusion dependent (TD). Mean (SD) hemoglobin levels (g/dL) for TD patients were 9.7 (1.28) vs 10.2 (1.64) for TI patients. Regarding patient burden, 21% reported RBCTs were inconvenient due to mode of administration with 42% of TD patients reporting RBCTs too time-consuming to complete daily tasks. Overall, 33% spent >4 hours per week receiving RBCTs, and 32% spent >4 hours traveling to appointments. TD patients reported experiencing anxiety during transfusions (37%) and 21% reported RBCTs not reducing symptom severity. Mean (SD) FACT-An Fatigue scores were 29.8 (11.61), 32.4 (6.58) and 35.0 (9.26) for TD, TR and TI patients, respectively. Mean (SD) FACT-An Anemia scores were 104.6 (28.07), 121.5 (19.72) and 123.6 (27.08) for TD, TR and TI patients, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the emotional and physical burden of RBCTs in patients with myelofibrosis-associated anemia, indicating the need for treatments that maintain TI and reduce RBCT burden to improve the QoL in this indication.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
CO253
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Patient-Centered Research, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Clinician Reported Outcomes
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology