Association between transfusion status and clinical and economic outcomes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes from the physicians' perspective

BACKGROUND: The current study investigated physicians' understanding of the impact of transfusion status (TS) on clinical and economic outcomes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). MATERIALS & METHODS: 378 physicians primarily specializing in hematology/oncology across five European countries completed the survey. The survey asked physicians for their perspectives on the impact of TS on risk of death, risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chance of leukemia‐free survival, and number of significant bleeding events, infection events, hospitalizations, and emergency room (ER) visits. RESULTS: Physicians estimated that compared to transfusion‐dependent (TD) patients, transfusion‐independent (TI) patients had a 37.6% reduced risk of death, lower risk of progression to AML, and lower risk of non‐leukemic death, for all MDS risk levels. TD patients who became TI after treatment were estimated to have 40.6% reduced risk of death and 34% reduced risk of progression to AML, compared to TD patients who remained TD. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TD patients, physicians estimated that TI patients have fewer events of infection and significant bleeding, and experience fewer hospitalizations and ER visits per person per year. Overall, physicians reported better outcomes for TI patients. New treatment options for patients with MDS to reduce or eliminate transfusion burden are warranted.