TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk, Outcomes, and Costs of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis Among Patients With Head-and-Neck Malignancies
AU - Elting, Linda S.
AU - Cooksley, Catherine D.
AU - Chambers, Mark S.
AU - Garden, Adam S.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported in part by a grant from Amgen.
Funding Information:
Conflict of interest: L.S.E. has received research funding for other projects from Amgen USA, and from MGI Pharma. M.S.C. has received research funding from Zila Biotechnology, RxKinetix, MedImmune, Daiichi-Sankyo, and reports consultancies with Nuvelo, Inc. A.S.G. has received research funding for other projects from Amgen USA and from MedImmune and reports consultancies with Bristol Meyers Squib/Imclone and MGI Pharma.
Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007/7/15
Y1 - 2007/7/15
N2 - Purpose: To study the risk, outcomes, and costs of radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) among patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) to head and neck primary cancers. Methods and Materials: A retrospective cohort consisting of 204 consecutive head-and-neck cancer patients who received RT with or without chemotherapy during 2002 was formed; their records were reviewed for clinical and resource use information. Patients who had received prior therapy, had second primary cancers, or received palliative radiation therapy were excluded. The risk of OM was analyzed by multiple variable logistic regression. The cost of care was computed from the provider's perspective in 2006 U.S. dollars and compared among patients with and without OM. Results: Oral mucositis occurred in 91% of patients; in 66% it was severe (Grade 3-4). Oral mucositis was more common among patients with oral cavity or oropharynx primaries (odds ratio [OR], 44.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.2 to >100; p < 0.001), those who received chemotherapy (OR = 7.8; 95% CI, 1.5-41.6; p = 0.02), and those who were treated with altered fractionation schedules (OR = 6.3; 95% CI, 1.1-35.1; p = 0.03). Patients with OM were significantly more likely to have severe pain (54% vs. 6%; p < 0.001) and a weight loss of ≥5% (60% vs. 17%; p < 0.001). Oral mucositis was associated with an incremental cost of $1700-$6000, depending on the grade. Conclusions: Head-and-neck RT causes OM in virtually all patients. Oral mucositis is associated with severe pain, significant weight loss, increased resource use, and excess cost. Preventive strategies are needed.
AB - Purpose: To study the risk, outcomes, and costs of radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) among patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) to head and neck primary cancers. Methods and Materials: A retrospective cohort consisting of 204 consecutive head-and-neck cancer patients who received RT with or without chemotherapy during 2002 was formed; their records were reviewed for clinical and resource use information. Patients who had received prior therapy, had second primary cancers, or received palliative radiation therapy were excluded. The risk of OM was analyzed by multiple variable logistic regression. The cost of care was computed from the provider's perspective in 2006 U.S. dollars and compared among patients with and without OM. Results: Oral mucositis occurred in 91% of patients; in 66% it was severe (Grade 3-4). Oral mucositis was more common among patients with oral cavity or oropharynx primaries (odds ratio [OR], 44.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.2 to >100; p < 0.001), those who received chemotherapy (OR = 7.8; 95% CI, 1.5-41.6; p = 0.02), and those who were treated with altered fractionation schedules (OR = 6.3; 95% CI, 1.1-35.1; p = 0.03). Patients with OM were significantly more likely to have severe pain (54% vs. 6%; p < 0.001) and a weight loss of ≥5% (60% vs. 17%; p < 0.001). Oral mucositis was associated with an incremental cost of $1700-$6000, depending on the grade. Conclusions: Head-and-neck RT causes OM in virtually all patients. Oral mucositis is associated with severe pain, significant weight loss, increased resource use, and excess cost. Preventive strategies are needed.
KW - Cost
KW - Head-and-neck cancer
KW - Oral mucositis
KW - Outcomes
KW - Radiotherapy
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.01.053
DO - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.01.053
M3 - Article
C2 - 17398022
AN - SCOPUS:34447260509
SN - 0360-3016
VL - 68
SP - 1110
EP - 1120
JO - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
JF - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
IS - 4
ER -