Major Study Finds Persistent Underuse and Disparities in Guideline-Recommended MDS Therapy
Medicare claims analysis shows stark gender, racial treatment gaps and widespread early discontinuation that undermine survival gains from hypomethylating agents.
Overview
- Only 16% of Medicare patients newly diagnosed with high-risk MDS received hypomethylating agents between 2011 and 2014.
- Female patients were 19% less likely and Black patients 30% less likely than white males to start HMA therapy.
- Over one-third of treated patients discontinued therapy by the fourth monthly cycle, and half had stopped by the sixth cycle.
- Real-world survival and quality-of-life outcomes have plateaued since azacitidine and decitabine were approved nearly two decades ago.
- Experts propose linking community clinics with specialty centers to boost adherence to recommended dosing and treatment duration.