Prescribing patterns from medical chart abstraction of patients administered lipegfilgrastim: a pilot study in Europe

AbstractPurpose: The objective of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility of conducting a drug utilization study of lipegfilgrastim in Europe using medical records and to examine the pattern of lipegfilgrastim on-label and off-label use.Methods: Data on lipegfilgrastim use between September 2014 and April 2017 were abstracted from medical records by two independent medical abstractors. Lipegfilgrastim indication was categorized either as on-label or as one of four types of off-label (I–IV) according to pre-defined criteria. An inter-rater reliability analysis was conducted to measure the degree of abstractor agreement for on-label and off-label use.Results: Information from 46 medical records was abstracted. Lipegfilgrastim use during the first chemotherapy treatment cycle was mostly indicated for prevention of neutropenia (82.6% of patients). On-label use was documented in 42 patients (91.3%), while off-label use was documented in two patients (4.3%); all events of off-label use were attributed t...