BACKGROUND: Bone metastases and lytic lesions due to multiple myeloma are common in advanced cancer and can lead to debilitating complications (skeletal-related events [SREs]), including requirement for radiation to bone. Despite the high frequency of radiation to bone in patients with metastatic bone disease, our knowledge of associated healthcare resource utilization (HRU) is limited. METHODS: This retrospective study estimated HRU following radiation to bone in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Eligible patients were ≥ 20 years old, had bone metastases secondary to breast, lung or prostate cancer, or bone lesions associated with multiple myeloma, and had received radiation to bone between 1 July 2004 and 1 July 2009. HRU data were extracted from hospital patient charts from 3.5 months before the index SRE (radiation to bone preceded by a SRE-free period of ≥ 6.5 months) until 3 months after the last SRE that the patient experienced during the study period. RESULTS: In total, 482 patients were included. The number of inpatient stays increased from baseline by a mean of 0.52 (standard deviation [SD] 1.17) stays per radiation to bone event and the duration of stays increased by a mean of 7.8 (SD 14.8) days. Outpatient visits increased by a mean of 4.24 (SD 6.57) visits and procedures by a mean of 8.51 (SD 7.46) procedures. CONCLUSION: HRU increased following radiation to bone across all countries studied. Agents that prevent severe pain and delay the need for radiation have the potential to reduce the burden imposed on healthcare resources and patients.

Biostatistics Amgen Ltd Uxbridge UK

Centre for Observational Research Amgen Ltd Uxbridge UK

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels Belgium

Department of Health Services Management National School of Public Health Athens Greece

HAGA Hospital The Hague Netherlands

Health Economics Amgen GmbH Zug Switzerland

Kantonsspital Graubünden Chur Switzerland

Universidade Nova de Lisboa National School of Public Health Public Health Research Centre Lisbon Portugal

University Hospital Plzeň Czech Republic

University of Athens School of Medicine Alexandra University Hospital Athens Greece

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