Real-world utilization of darbepoetin alfa in cancer chemotherapy patients:

ObjectivesTo provide an understanding of darbepoetin alfa dose patterns in cancer patients undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy starting from 2011.Study designThis is a retrospective cohort study using a proprietary outpatient oncology database.MethodsMetastatic, solid tumor cancer patients receiving concomitant myelosuppressive chemotherapy and darbepoetin alfa with an associated hemoglobin <10 g/dL during 2011–2015 were identified. The analysis was restricted to the first continuous exposure to chemotherapy agents (maximum allowable gap of 90 days between consecutive exposures) with darbepoetin alfa for each eligible patient. Initial, maintenance, weekly, and cumulative doses of darbepoetin alfa were examined across all darbepoetin alfa users. Subgroup analyses were conducted by chemotherapy type, baseline hemoglobin level, year of chemotherapy, solid tumor type, and initial dosing schedule. Differences in weekly doses across subgroups were evaluated using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.ResultsAmong 835 el...