Pathologic fracture and healthcare resource utilisation: A retrospective study in eight European countries

Skeletal-related events (SREs; pathologic fracture [PF], spinal cord compression and radiation or surgery to bone) are common complications of bone metastases or bone lesions and can impose a considerable burden on patients and healthcare systems. In this study, the healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) associated with PFs in patients with bone metastases or lesions secondary to solid tumours or multiple myeloma was estimated in eight European countries.

Eligible patients were identified in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. HRU data were extracted from hospital charts from 3.5 months before the index PF (defined as a PF preceded by a 6.5-month period without a SRE) until 3 months after the last SRE during the study period. Changes from baseline in the number and duration of inpatient stays, number of outpatient visits and number of procedures provided were recorded.

Overall, 118 patients with PFs of long bones (those longer than they are wide, e.g. the femur) and 241 patients with PFs of other bones were included. Overall, HRU was greater in patients with long bone PFs than in those with PFs of other bones. A higher proportion of patients with long bone PFs had multiple SREs (79.7%), and more of their SREs were considered to be linked (73.4%) compared with patients with PFs of other bones (51.0% and 47.2%, respectively).

The increased number and duration of inpatient stays for PFs of long bones compared with those for PFs of other bones may be due in part to the requirement for complicated and lengthy rehabilitation in patients with long bone PFs. Implementing strategies to delay or reduce the number of PFs experienced by patients with bone metastases or lesions may therefore reduce the associated HRU and patient burden.