The impact of age on the diagnosis and therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes: results from a retrospective multicenter analysis in Germany.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is a disease of predominantly elderly patients with a median age of >70 yrs. However, data on the management of these patients outside of clinical trials are scarce. To assess patterns of MDS management in routine patient care with regard to the impact of age, we conducted a multicenter, representative survey of MDS health services in Germany.

The impact of chemotherapy-induced side effects on medical care usage and cost in German hospital care--an observational analysis on non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Purpose: To evaluate frequency and severity of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and its economic consequences after standard dose (immuno-)chemotherapy (CT) of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Subanalysis of a prospective, multicentre, longitudinal, observational cohort study; data were collected from patient interviews and pre-planned chart reviews. Costs were aggregated per CT line and presented from provider perspective.

Diagnosis and therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes in Germany: a retrospective multicenter analysis.

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogenous group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders.

Patients And Methods: In order to assess current diagnosis and treatment patterns in Germany, the data of 269 patients with MDS from 57 representative centers were analyzed.

Results: The most common symptom leading to an initial diagnosis of MDS was anemia (79%).

Comparison of actual hospital costs versus DRG revenues for in-patient treatment of febrile neutropenia during adjuvant anthracycline plus/minus taxane-based chemotherapy for primary breast cancer.

Background: In flat-rate reimbursement systems, the hospital's own costs should not exceed its revenues. In a cohort of primary breast cancer (pBC) patients, costs and reimbursement for febrile neutropenia (FN) were compared to verify cost coverage.

Methods: A prospective, observational study in pBC patients receiving adjuvant anthracycline ± taxane-based chemotherapy calculated the costs per in-patient FN episode.

Management of febrile neutropenia--a German prospective hospital cost analysis in lymphoproliferative disorders, non-small cell lung cancer, and primary breast cancer.

Background: Febrile neutropenia/leukopenia (FN/FL) is the most frequent dose-limiting toxicity of myelosuppressive chemotherapy, but German data on economic consequences are limited.

Patients And Methods: A prospective, multicentre, longitudinal, observational study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of FN/FL and its impact on health resource utilization and costs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD), and primary breast cancer (PBC) patients. Costs are presented from a hospital perspective.