OBJECTIVES:

This study evaluated the burden of disease, health care resource use and associated costs in patients with polycytemia vera (PV) with elevated leukocyte counts in Finland.

METHODS:

Real World Data of adult patients diagnosed with PV from Auria Biobank during 2004-2013 was collected. Patients were defined as in Control if the median leukocyte count after diagnosis was ≤15*10^/L (>15*10^/L = No-Control). Overall survival, incidence of myelofibrotic and leukemic transformations, thromboembolic complications, myocardial infarction and stroke were estimated. Hospital treatment periods, hospital days, outpatient visits, medical procedures and laboratories were also collected and valued in 2016 prices.

RESULTS:

A total of 186 patients (51.1% men) diagnosed with PV were identified. After diagnosis, a total of 8,058 leukocyte counts had been measured, with an average of 43.3 measurements per patient. 148 patients (79.6%) were categorised as in Control. The total average follow-up (years) and patient years were 5.17 and 765.16 in the Control -group (CG) and 4.42 and 167.96 in the no-Control -group (n-CG). Overall survival was distinctly worse in the nCG (Log rank test p<0.001) and under half of these patients survived over 5 years from diagnosis. Myelofibrotic transformation occurred in 21.1% (n-CG) and 9.5% (CG) (p=0.0492, 'N-1' chi-squared test) and leukemic transformation in 15.8% (n-CG) and 7.4 % (CG) (p=0.1095) of patients. 44.7% and 23.6% (p=0.0099) of patients had experienced thromboembolic complications, 7.9% and 9.5% (p=0.7611) a myocardial infarction and 5.3% and 14.9% a stroke (p=0.1167) in the nCG and CG, respectively. The total average health care costs per patient were €49, 051 and €36,275 and per patient year €11,097 and €7,016 in the nCG and CG, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Elevated leukocyte counts are associated with reduced overall survival, increased health care resource use and costs, myelofibrotic transformation and thromboembolic complications in patients with PV in Finland.