RBC transfusion independence among lower risk MDS patients receiving hypomethylating agents: a population-level analysis

Most patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes myelodysplastic syndromes: (my-eh-lo-diss-PLASS-tik SIN-dromez) A group of disorders where the bone marrow does not work well, and the bone marrow cells fail to make enough healthy blood cells. Myelo refers to the bone marrow. Dysplastic means abnormal growth or development. People with MDS have low blood cell count for at… (LR-MDS) become red blood cell red blood cell: The most numerous type of blood cell in healthy people. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte, RBC. (RBC) transfusion dependent at some time during their disease course. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are frequently used in this setting; however, reported rates of in RBC transfusion independence transfusion independence: No longer needing any type of blood transfusion. (TI) achieved with HMA therapy vary significantly between studies. Here we study the real-life clinical effectiveness of HMA in inducing RBC TI in anemic LR-MDS patients using the Surveillance, Epidemiology Epidemiology: The study of patterns and causes of disease in groups of people. Epidemiology researchers study how many people have a disease, how many new cases are diagnosed each year, where patients are located, and environmental or other factors that influence disease. and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. We find that approximately 40% of LR-MDS patients who were receiving RBC transfusions and 33% who were dependent on RBC transfusions at HMA initiation ultimately achieved TI. The receipt of ≥3 transfusions in the 8-week period before HMA initiation was significantly associated with lower odds of achieving TI. Our study provides important population level estimates of clinical effectiveness of HMAs in LR-MDS.