OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the risk of death and survival of patients with MF treated with ruxolitinib in comparison with the group on standard therapy before ruxolitinib inclusion in the national reimbursement system of Bulgaria.

METHODS: It is a cross-sectional, retrospective, non-interventional, real-life study performed at the Specialized hospital for active treatment of hematological diseases (SHATHD) in Sofia, Bulgaria during the period January 2000 – December 2022 including all patients with myelofibrosis (MF) in the outpatient department of the hospital. Risk and survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Risk analysis shows that the fatality in the control group is 22% during the period of observation vs 6% in the group on ruxolitinib for almost the same length of time. Therefore, the decrease of the risk for dead is 16% when treated with ruxolitinib. The relative risk reduction is 267 times, and the relative risk for death in the control group is 3 times higher. Survival of patients in the ruxolitinib group is higher. According to Kaplan Meter analysis there is 75,33% reduction in the fatality risk in the sample. On the general population level fatality risk in the treated with ruxolitinib group will vary between 7,9% and 77,18% from the risk in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that patients treated with ruxolitinib have lower risk of dead and longer survival in the real life setting therapy in Bulgaria.