Date of Award
1-1-2020
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences
First Advisor
Yi Yang
Second Advisor
Ruchit Shah
Third Advisor
Sujith Ramachandran
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This dissertation aimed at filling the gaps in the body of multiple myeloma (MM) literature by comparing overall survival and safety of first line maintenance or continuous treatment, and assessing disease lifetime costs, phase-specific costs and its drivers among elderly newly diagnosed (NDMM) patients. Moreover, it aimed to assess trends in EOL care and the impact of PCC on EOL care outcomes among elderly MM patients. First, this study assessed the comparative safety and effectiveness among those who received first line LEN-based treatment versus those who received first line BORT-based treatment. The results from the study demonstrates an overall survival benefit and similar toxicity risk for patients receiving first line LEN-based continuous or maintenance treatment over those who received first line BORT-based treatment. Further, the study results highlighted the substantial economic burden associated with MM care, in spite of the disease having low prevalence as compared to some of the other cancers. The incremental phase-specific costs were highest for the initial care phase, folloby the terminal phase, with costs being slightly lower for the continuing care phase, and lowest for the pre-diagnosis phase. Inpatient and outpatient costs were the major drivers of costs in all the four phases. Pharmacy costs were a significant driver of costs in the initial and terminal phases, and were the biggest cost driver in the continuing care phase. Last, it assessed trends in aggressiveness of EOL care outcomes over time. While certain indicators of aggressive EOL care remained stable over time, we observed an increasing trend for multiple ED visits and ICU stays. Moreover, this study assessed the impact of palliative care consultations on receiving aggressive EOL care, and healthcare resource use and costs at EOL. Results indicate that early palliative care consultations have the potential to reduce aggressive EOL care, and curtail healthcare resource use and costs at EOL. Study findings about clinical and economic outcomes will help inform clinicians’ treatment decisions, aid policy discussions regarding MM care and coverage, and help design interventions to integrate early palliative care into routine care among elderly MM patients.
Recommended Citation
Bhattacharya, Kaustuv, "Multiple Myeloma – Treatments, Economic Burden, And End Of Life Care" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1812.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/1812