MDS-120: Molecular and Diagnostic Testing Patterns in Elderly Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) in the Connect® MDS/AML Disease Registry

Context: Molecular genetic testing is an important diagnostic tool for MDS. WHO MDS classification criteria were updated in 2016; how they are implemented in practice is unclear. Our knowledge of molecular testing in elderly patients is limited. Objective: To compare testing patterns in elderly (≥80 years) and younger ( Design: Baseline characteristics and laboratory data were collected from patients enrolled from Dec 12, 2013 to data cutoff Dec 13, 2019 in the Connect® MDS/AML Disease Registry ( NCT01688011 ), an ongoing, US, multicenter, prospective observational cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed MDS (aged ≥18 years) or AML (aged ≥55 years). Testing patterns were compared between elderly and younger MDS patients. Results: 234/800 (29.3%) MDS patients were aged ≥80 years and 566/800 (70.7%) Conclusions: Although molecular testing rates have increased since 2017, testing rates for elderly MDS patients remained lower than for younger patients. Education focused on increasing testing rates in elderly patients is needed to ensure appropriate care. The study was supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb.