Effects of Initiating or Switching to a Six-Monthly Triptorelin Formulation on Prostate Cancer Patient–Healthcare Interactions and Hospital Resource Use: a Real-World, Retrospective, Non-Interventional Study

• Published in: Oncology and therapy 2018-12, Vol.6 (2), p.173-187
• Main Authors: Cornford, Philip, Jefferson, Kieran, Cole, Owen, Gilbody, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer therapies; Cost control; Hormones; Internal Medicine; Luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Research; Patients; Prostate cancer; Prostate-specific antigen; Real-world evidence; Resource utilisation; Six-monthly triptorelin
• ISSN: 2366-1070; 2366-1089
• DOI: 10.1007/s40487-018-0087-1

Introduction Luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRHa) injections are currently used in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, but the frequency of injections may represent a burden to patients and healthcare services. The aim of this study was to collect real-world evidence about clinical and practical outcomes for patients with prostate cancer initiating six-monthly triptorelin, or switching from shorter-acting formulations to six-monthly triptorelin, in hospitals in the DEcapeptyl SERVice Evaluation project. Methods Up to 2 years of data were collected retrospectively by physicians from records of 88 patients receiving six-monthly triptorelin at three centres. The primary outcome measure was the change in the number of patient–healthcare interactions (patient reviews, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, and LHRHa injections) over a 24-month treatment period. Results This analysis included 47 patients newly initiated on six-monthly triptorelin and 41 who received 12 months of a one- or three-monthly LHRHa before switching to six-monthly triptorelin. After switching to six-monthly triptorelin, there was a statistically significant reduction in patient reviews (46.8%), injections (46.8%), and PSA tests (26.6%; all P