The effect of postoperative beam, implant, and combination radiation therapy on GI and bladder toxicities in female Medicare beneficiaries with stage I uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the risk of late gastrointestinal (GI) and bladder toxicities in women treated for Stage I uterine cancer with postoperative beam, implant, or combination radiation. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) tumor registry and Medicare claims were used to estimate the risk of developing late GI and bladder toxicities by type of radiation received. Bladder and GI diagnoses were identified 6-60 months after cancer diagnosis. Cox-proportional hazard models were used to estimate risk of any late GI or bladder toxicity due to type of radiation received. RESULTS: A total of 3,024 women with uterine cancer diagnosed from 1992-2005 were identified for analysis with a mean age of 73.9 (Standard Deviation (SD) ± 6.5). Bladder and GI toxicities occurred most frequently in the combination group, and least in the implant group. After controlling for demographic characteristics, tumor grade, diagnosis year, SEER region, comorbidities, prior GI and bladder diagnosis, and chemotherapy, women receiving implant radiation had a 21% absolute decrease in GI toxicities compared to women receiving combination radiation (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.92). No differences were observed between those receiving beam and combination in GI (HR 1.01 (0.89-1.14)) and bladder (HR 0.95 (0.80-1.11)) toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: Older women receiving combined radiation had the highest rates of GI and bladder toxicities, while women receiving implant radiation alone had the lowest rates. When selecting type of radiation for a patient, these toxicities should be considered. Counseling older women surviving cancer on late toxicities due to radiation must be a priority for physicians caring for them.

Continuation rates and complications of intrauterine contraception in women diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate continuation rates, complications, and psychiatric hospitalizations among women with bipolar disorder using levonorgestrel-releasing or copper-containing intrauterine devices (IUDs) as compared with those using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate or sterilization for birth control. METHODS: Data for this cohort study were obtained from a nationwide health insurance claims database on an employed, commercially insured population. Women aged 18-44 years with a prior diagnosis of bipolar disorder (n=849) who were using the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, a copper-containing IUD, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or sterilization were evaluated. Outcomes included continuation rates over a 12-month interval, infectious and noninfectious complications, and hospitalizations for bipolar disorder or depression. RESULTS: Women using an IUD were more likely than those using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate to continue the method for at least 12 months (copper-containing IUD, 86%; levonorgestrel intrauterine system, 87%). In comparison, only 31% of those who initiated depot medroxyprogesterone acetate received three more injections during the next year (P<.001). No significant differences were noted in infectious or noninfectious complications by contraceptive type. Finally, no differences were observed in the number of hospitalizations for bipolar disorder or depression among the four contraceptive groups. CONCLUSION: More women with bipolar disorder continued using IUDs at one year than women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. The rates of complications and psychiatric hospitalizations were not different among women using an IUD, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or sterilization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.