Cost-effectiveness of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for recurrent mismatch repair-proficient endometrial cancer after platinum-based therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The recent Study 309-KEYNOTE-775 showed improved survival for lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab compared to chemotherapy in patients with recurrent endometrial cancer. We created a decision model to compare the cost-effectiveness of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) endometrial cancer who had progressed after first-line chemotherapy. METHODS: A Markov model was created to simulate the clinical trajectory of 10,000 patients with recurrent pMMR endometrial cancer. The initial decision point in the model was treatment with ether lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab or chemotherapy (doxorubicin or dose-dense paclitaxel). Model probabilities, utility values and costs were derived with assumptions drawn from published literature. A cycle length of 3 months and a time horizon of 2 years was used. The effectiveness was calculated in terms of average quality adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. The primary outcome was incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), expressed in 2020 US dollars/QALYs. One-way, two-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: Chemotherapy was the least costly strategy at $66,693 followed by lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab ($193,590). Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab resulted in more patients being alive at 2 years (lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab: 367, chemotherapy: 109). Chemotherapy was cost-effective compared with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab (ICER: $164,493/QALYs). Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab became cost-effective when its cost was reduced by $1553 per month (7.8% reduction). CONCLUSION: For patients with recurrent pMMR endometrial cancer Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab is associated with greater survival but is more costly than chemotherapy. The cost of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab would have to be reduced by approximately 7% to be considered cost-effective.

Dostarlimab for recurrent mismatch repair-deficient endometrial cancer: A cost-effectiveness study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with recurrent endometrial cancer treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel whose disease progresses have few effective treatment options. Based on promising clinical trial data, the anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) antibody dostarlimab was recently granted accelerated approval for endometrial cancer by the US Food and Drug Administration. We developed a decision model to examine the cost-effectiveness of dostarlimab for patients with progressive/recurrent deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) endometrial cancer whose disease has progressed with first-line chemotherapy. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness study. POPULATION: Hypothetical cohort of 6000 women with progressive/recurrent dMMR endometrial cancer. METHODS: The initial decision point in the Markov model was treatment with dostarlimab, pembrolizumab or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). Model probabilities, and cost and utility values were derived with assumptions drawn from published literature. Effectiveness was estimated as average quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. One-way, two-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to vary the assumptions across a range of plausible values. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). RESULTS: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was the least costly strategy, at $55,732, followed by dostarlimab ($151,533) and pembrolizumab ($154,597). Based on a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/QALY, PLD was cost-effective compared with dostarlimab, with an ICER of $331,913 per QALY gained for dostarlimab, whereas pembrolizumab was ruled out by extended dominance (less effective, more costly), compared with dostarlimab. In one-way sensitivity analyses, dostarlimab was cost-effective when its cost was reduced to $4905 (52% reduction). These results were robust in a variety of sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Dostarlimab is associated with greater survival compared with other treatments for women with recurrent dMMR endometrial cancer. Although the agent is substantially more costly, dostarlimab became cost-effective when its cost was reduced to $5489 per cycle.

Temporal Trends in Cervical Cancer Screening Practices and Associated Downstream Abnormalities and Procedures Among Women With Insurance in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine temporal trends in cervical cancer screening practices and associated downstream abnormalities and procedures. METHODS: Women aged 18-64 years with commercial insurance or Medicaid insurance from 2008 to 2019 were identified using the IBM MarketScan databases. The annual rates of screening overall and by type of test (cytology, co-testing, or primary human papillomavirus testing) were examined. Downstream abnormal cytologic and histologic test results, colposcopies, and excisional procedures were examined, and rates were reported for the population of eligible patients with continuous insurance and for those who underwent screening. Changes over time in testing and outcomes were compared using χ2 tests and Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2019, the annual screening prevalence decreased from 42.6% to 29.4% in women with commercial insurance (P<.001) and from 27.9% to 12.4% among women with Medicaid insurance (P<.001). In the cohort of women with commercial insurance, cytology usage decreased from 79.4% to 38.9% and co-testing increased from 20.1% to 59.6% (P<.001). Per 1,000 women screened, the rate of abnormal histologic and cytologic test results rose from 96 to 119 (P<.001) and colposcopies rose from 33 to 42 (P<.001); excisional procedures remained relatively constant. Per 1,000 eligible women, the rate of abnormal histologic and cytologic test results decreased from 41 to 35 (P<.001), colposcopies declined from 14 to 12, and excisional procedures decreased from 3 to 2. CONCLUSION: Human papillomavirus testing has been rapidly incorporated into cervical cancer screening and is associated with an increasing trend of downstream abnormalities and procedures among screened women but a declining trend at the population level.

Patterns of cervical cancer screening among Medicaid beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer screening guidelines have evolved over time with the incorporation of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing along with cytology. Current screening guidelines recommend cytological screening every 3 years or HPV testing with or without cytology every 5 years in women age 30-65 years. We examined the use of cervical cancer screening among average-risk Medicaid beneficiaries. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. POPULATION: Women age 30-64 years at average risk for cervical cancer who underwent cervical cancer screening with cytology, co-testing or primary HPV testing from 2013 to 2016. METHODS: The IBM Watson Health Multi-State Medicaid MarketScan Database was used. Subsequent screening rates within 3 years of the index test were examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The rate of repeat cervical cancer screening was analysed using a cumulative incidence function. RESULTS: A total of 265 083 patients were identified. Overall, 43.1% (n = 114 312) had index co-testing, 55.2% (n = 146 309) had cytology and 1.7% (n = 4462) had primary HPV testing. The cumulative incidence of early, repeat cervical cancer screening was 3.9% at 12 months, 22.7% at 24 months and 33.3% at 36 months. During the period from 12 to 24 months after follow up, 20.9% of women underwent repeat screening while 19.4% underwent repeat screening 24-36 months after the index test. Among women who did not undergo repeat cervical cancer screening, a yearly gynaecological examination was performed in only 16 627 (10.7%) during year 2 and in 11 116 (8.8%) during year 3. CONCLUSION: Among average-risk Medicaid beneficiaries, cervical cancer screening is frequently overused. Women who do not undergo cervical cancer screening are unlikely to undergo routine gynaecological examination. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Among average-risk Medicaid beneficiaries, cervical cancer screening is frequently overused.

Adoption of minimally invasive surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with metastatic uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced stage uterine cancer is increasing. We analyzed the use and outcomes of open versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for women with stage IV uterine cancer who received NACT and underwent IDS. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify women with stage IV uterine cancer diagnosed from 2010 to 2017 and treated with NACT. Among women who underwent IDS, overall survival (OS) was compared between those who underwent laparotomy vs a minimally invasive approach. To account for imbalances in confounders, a propensity score analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1618 women were identified. Minimally invasive IDS was performed in 31.1% and increased from 16.2% in 2010 to 40.4% in 2017 (P < 0.001). More recent year of diagnosis and performance of surgery at a comprehensive cancer center were associated with increased use of MIS (P < 0.05). Women with serous and clear cell tumors, and carcinosarcomas (compared to endometrioid tumors), as well as Medicaid coverage (compared to commercial insurance) were less likely to undergo an MIS approach (P < 0.05). The median OS was 28 months (95% CI 23.7-30.7) and 24.3 months (95% CI 22.3-26.1) for MIS and laparotomy, respectively. After propensity score balancing, there was no association between the use of MIS and survival (HR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.71-1.14). CONCLUSIONS: Among women with stage IV uterine cancer treated with NACT performance of minimally invasive debulking surgery is increasing. Compared to laparotomy, MIS does not appear to negatively impact survival.

Long-term outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy for endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH) has been proposed as an alternative to laparoscopic (TLH) and abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), particularly for women with medical comorbidities. We examined the use and long-term outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy for women with early-stage endometrial cancer. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was used to identify women with stage I-II endometrial cancer treated with primary hysterectomy from 2000 to 2015. Multivariable regression models were developed to examine clinical, demographic, and pathologic factors associated with performance of TVH. The association between route of hysterectomy and cancer-specific and overall survival was examined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 19,212 patients including 837 (4.6%) who underwent TVH were identified. Performance of TVH declined from 4.5% in 2000 to 2.2% in 2015 (P < 0.0001). Compared to patients 65-69 years of age, patients 75-79 years old (aRR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.19-1.79) and those >80 years old (aRR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.30-1.97) were more likely to undergo TVH. Women with high grade tumors were less likely to undergo TVH. Five-year overall and cancer specific survivals were similar for TAH, TLH, and TVH. In multivariable models, there was no association between TVH and either cancer-specific survival (HR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.65-1.22) compared to laparoscopic hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Use of TVH for stage I and II endometrial cancer has decreased in the U.S. Chronologic age is the greatest predictor of performance of TVH. Performance of TVH does not negatively impact survival for women with early-stage endometrial cancer.

Disparities in Access to High-Volume Surgeons Within High-Volume Hospitals for Hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine access to high-volume surgeons in comparison with low-volume surgeons who perform hysterectomies within high-volume hospitals and to compare perioperative morbidity and mortality between high-volume and low-volume surgeons within these centers. METHODS: Women who underwent hysterectomy in New York State between 2000 and 2014 at a high-volume (top quartile by volume) hospital were included. Surgeons were classified into quartiles based on average annual hysterectomy volume. Multivariable models were used to determine characteristics associated with treatment by a low-volume surgeon in comparison with a high-volume surgeon and to estimate the association between physician volume, and morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 300,586 patients cared for by 5,505 surgeons at 59 hospitals were identified. Women treated by low-volume surgeons, in comparison with high-volume surgeons, were more often Black (19.4% vs 14.3%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.26; 95% CI 1.09-1.46) and had Medicare insurance (20.6% vs 14.5%; aOR 1.22; 95% CI 1.04-1.42). Low-volume surgeons were more likely to perform both emergent-urgent procedures (26.1% vs 6.4%; aOR 3.91; 95% CI 3.26-4.69) and abdominal hysterectomy, compared with minimally invasive hysterectomy (77.8% vs 54.7%; aOR 1.91; 95% CI 1.62-2.24). Compared with patients cared for by high-volume surgeons, those operated on by low-volume surgeons had increased risk of a complication (31.0% vs 10.3%; adjusted risk ratios [aRR] 1.84; 95% CI 1.71-1.98) and mortality (2.2% vs 0.2%; aRR 3.04; 95% CI 2.20-4.21). In sensitivity analyses, differences in morbidity and mortality remained for emergent-urgent procedures, elective operations, cancer surgery, and noncancer procedures. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic disparities remain in access to high-volume surgeons within high-volume hospitals for hysterectomy. Patients who undergo hysterectomy at a high-volume hospital by a low-volume surgeon are at substantially greater risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Uptake and Outcomes of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Women With Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the utilization, morbidity, and cost of sentinel lymph node mapping in women undergoing hysterectomy for complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia. METHODS: Women with complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia who underwent hysterectomy from 2012 to 2018 in the Perspective database were examined. Perioperative morbidity, mortality, and cost were examined based on performance of sentinel lymph node mapping, lymph node dissection or no nodal evaluation. RESULTS: Among 10,266 women, sentinel lymph node mapping was performed in 620 (6.0%), lymph node dissection in 538 (5.2%), and no lymphatic evaluation in 9,108 (88.7%). Use of sentinel lymph node mapping increased from 0.8% in 2012 to 14.0% in 2018, and the rate of lymph node dissection rose from 5.7% to 6.4% (P<.001). In an adjusted model, residence in the western United States, treatment by high-volume hospitals and use of robotic-assisted hysterectomy were associated with sentinel lymph node mapping (P<.05 for all). The complication rates were similar between the three groups. The median cost for sentinel lymph node mapping ($9,673) and lymph node dissection ($9,754) were higher than in those who did not undergo nodal assessment ($8,435) (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Performance of sentinel lymph node mapping is increasing rapidly for women with complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia but is not associated with increased perioperative morbidity or mortality.

Cost of care for the initial management of cervical cancer in women with commercial insurance.

BACKGROUND: Women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer are often treated with extensive, multimodal therapies that may include a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Little is known about the cost of treatment or how these costs are passed on to the patients. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to examine the cost of care during the first year after a diagnosis of cervical cancer, to estimate the sources of the costs, and to explore the out-of-pocket costs. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a study of women with commercial insurance who received a new diagnosis of cervical cancer, and whose cases were recorded in the MarketScan database from 2008 to 2016. Patients were categorized based on the primary treatment received being either surgery (hysterectomy with or without adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy) or radiation. The inflation-adjusted medical expenditures for a 12-month period beginning on the date of the first treatment were estimated. The payments were divided into the expenditures of inpatient care, outpatient care (including chemotherapy), and outpatient pharmacy costs. The out-of-pocket costs incurred by the patients in the form of copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 4495 patients, including 3014 (67%) who underwent surgery and 1481 (33%) who primarily underwent radiotherapy, were identified. The median total expenditure per patient during the first year after the diagnosis was $56,250 (interquartile range, $25,767-$107,532). The median total expenditure for patients with surgery as the primary treatment was $37,222 (interquartile range, $20,957-$75,555). The median total expenditure for patients treated primarily with radiotherapy was $101,266 (interquartile range, $63,155-$160,760). For patients treated primarily with surgery, inpatient services accounted for $15,145 (interquartile range, $0-$26,898), outpatient services accounted for $18,430 (interquartile range, $5354-$48,047), and outpatient pharmacy costs accounted for $628 (interquartile range, $141-$1847). The median cost for those women who did not require adjuvant therapy was $26,164 compared with $89,760 for women treated with adjuvant radiation. The median out-of-pocket costs for the cohort was $2253 (interquartile range, $1137-$3990) or 3.9% of the total costs. CONCLUSION: The cost of care for women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer is substantial. Overall, patients are responsible for approximately 3.9% of the costs in the form of out-of-pocket expenditures.

Toxicity after adjuvant therapy for stage III uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal adjuvant therapy for stage III endometrial cancer is unknown. Studies have suggested that combination therapy with chemotherapy and radiation is associated with improved survival. We examined early and late-term toxicities associated with chemotherapy (CT), external beam radiotherapy (RT), or combination chemoradiotherapy for stage III uterine cancer. METHODS: The SEER-Medicare database was used to identify women age ≥ 65 years with stage III uterine cancer who received adjuvant CT, RT, or chemoradiotherapy from 2000 to 2015. The associations between therapy and early and late-term toxicities identified with billing claims, hospitalizations and emergency department visits were examined using multivariable regression models. RESULTS: A total of 2185 patients were identified including 574 (26.3%) who received CT, 636 (29.1%) who received RT, and 975 (44.6%) who received chemoradiotherapy. The proportion of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy or CT increased over time. During the first 6 and 12 months of adjuvant therapy, RT was associated with a lower risk of early-term toxicity compared to chemoradiotherapy (aRR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.49-0.70 and aRR = 0.76, 95%CI 0.67-0.86, respectively) while CT shared a similar risk of early toxicities as chemoradiotherapy. CT and RT shared a similar risk of late-term toxicities compared to chemoradiotherapy. CT and RT alone were associated with a higher hazard for overall mortality than chemoradiotherapy (aHR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.47 and aHR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.08-1.44, respectively). CONCLUSION: Chemoradiotherapy is associated with lower mortality compared to single modality therapy and has a similar risk of early and late term toxicities compared to CT, though higher risk of early toxicities compared to RT.

The effect of guideline-concordant care in mitigating insurance status disparities in cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the receipt of evidence-based care could mitigate survival disparities among Medicaid recipients and uninsured women with cervical cancer. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was utilized to identify women with cervical cancer treated from 2004 to 2016. Eight quality metrics were determined. Survival outcomes were examined stratified by insurance status and stage. To measure the impact of guideline-concordant care on the mitigation of disparities, we compared survival outcomes of the overall cohort to one that was perfectly adherent to all quality metrics. RESULTS: A total of 103,400 patients were identified; 47.0% of patients had private insurance, 21.5% Medicaid and 9.2% uninsured. Medicaid and uninsured patients were significantly less likely than privately insured patients to receive timely completion of radiation and timely initiation of treatment; uninsured patients were also significantly less likely to receive treatment for locally advanced disease. Medicaid and uninsured patients were also less likely to receive lymph node assessment and primary chemoradiation. Medicaid and uninsured patients had an increased risk of mortality compared to privately insured patients (aHR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.31-1.41 and aHR 1.29, 95% CI 1.23-1.36 respectively). While the receipt of these quality metrics was associated with improved survival, Medicaid and uninsured women who received guideline-concordant care were still at an increased risk of death compared to women with private insurance (aHR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.35-1.49 and aHR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.32 respectively). CONCLUSION: Medicaid and uninsured patients were less likely to receive evidence-based care and were at increased risk of mortality at all stages compared to privately insured patients. The receipt of quality care does not eliminate insurance status-based disparities among women with cervical cancer.

A modern assessment of the surgical pathologic spread and nodal dissemination of endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of nodal metastases in a contemporary cohort of women based on pathologic risk factors including histology, depth of invasion, tumor grade, and lymphovascular space invasion. METHODS: Women with endometrial cancer who underwent hysterectomy from 2004 to 2016 who were registered in the National Cancer Database were analyzed. Patients were stratified by T stage: T1A (<50% myometrial invasion), T1B (>50% myometrial invasion) and T2 (cervical involvement). Lymph node metastases were assessed in relation to tumor T stage and grade, and further stratified by lymphovascular space invasion. RESULTS: We identified 161,960 patients. The rate of nodal metastases within the endometrioid histology cohort was 2.2% for T1A cancers, 12.8% for T1B cancers and 19.9% for T2 cancers. For stage TIA cancers, the percent of patients with positive nodes increased from 1.1% for grade 1 cancers, to 2.9% for grade 2 cancers to 4.8% for grade 3 cancers. The corresponding rates of nodal metastases for stage T1B cancers were 8.6%, 13.7%, and 16.9%, respectively. For T1A cancers without lymphovascular space invasion, nodal metastases ranged from 0.6% in those with grade 1 cancers to 3.0% for grade 3 cancers. The corresponding risk of nodal disease ranged from 11.8% to 13.9% for T1A cancers with lymphovascular space invasion. CONCLUSIONS: There was a sequential increase in the risk of lymph node metastases based on depth of uterine invasion, tumor grade, and the presence of lymphovascular space invasion. The overall rate of nodal metastasis is lower than reported in the original GOG 33.

Effect of regionalization of endometrial cancer care on site of care and patient travel.

BACKGROUND: Complex oncologic surgeries, including those for endometrial cancer, increasingly have been concentrated to greater-volume centers, owing to previous research that has demonstrated associations between greater surgical volume and improved outcomes. There is a potential for concentration of care to have unwanted consequences, including cost burden, delayed treatment, patient dissatisfaction, and possibly worse clinical outcomes, especially for more vulnerable populations. OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in site of care for patients with endometrial cancer in New York State and to determine whether the distance women traveled for hysterectomy has changed over time. STUDY DESIGN: We used the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System to identify women with endometrial cancer who underwent hysterectomy from 2000 to 2014. Demographic and clinical data as well as hospital data were collected. Trends in travel distance (straight-line distance) were analyzed within all hospital referral regions and differences in travel distance over times and across sociodemographic characteristics analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 41,179 subjects. The number of hospitals and surgeons performing hysterectomy decreased across all hospital referral regions over time. The decline in the number of hospitals caring for women with endometrial cancer ranged from -16.7% in Syracuse (12 to 10 hospitals) to -76.5% in Rochester (17 to 4 hospitals). Similarly, the percentage of surgeons within a given hospital referral region operating on women declined from -45.2% in Buffalo (84-46 surgeons) to -77.8% in Albany (72 to 16 surgeons). The median distance to the index hospital for patients increased in all Hospital Referral Regions. For residents in Binghamton, median travel distance increased by 46.9 miles (95% confidence interval, 33.8-60.0) whereas distance increased in Elmira by 19.7 miles (95% confidence interval, 7.3-32.1) and by 12.4 miles (95% confidence interval, 6.4-18.4) in Albany. For residents of Binghamton and Albany, there was a greater than 100% increase in distance traveled over the 15-year time period, with increases of 551.8% (46.9 miles; 95% confidence interval, 33.8-60.0 miles) and 102.5% (12.4 miles; 95% confidence interval, 6.4-18.4 miles), respectively. Travel distance increased for all races and regardless of insurance status but was greatest for white patients and those with private insurance (P<.0001 for both). CONCLUSION: The number of surgeons and hospitals caring for women with endometrial cancer in New York State has decreased, whereas the distance that patients travel to receive care has increased over time.

Use and Misuse of Opioids After Gynecologic Surgical Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the rate of opioid use for gynecologic surgical procedures and to investigate persistent opioid use among those women who received an initial opioid prescription. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using the MarketScan database was performed. MarketScan is a claims-based data source that captures claims from more than 50 million privately insured patients and 6 million Medicaid enrollees from 12 states. We identified women who underwent major and minor gynecologic surgery from 2009 to 2016. Among women who received an opioid prescription, new persistent opioid use was defined as receipt of one or more opioid prescriptions from 90 to 180 days after surgery with no intervening additional procedures or anesthesia. Multivariable models were used to examine associations between clinical characteristics and any use and new persistent use of opioids. RESULTS: A total of 729,625 patients were identified. Overall, 60.0% of patients received a perioperative opioid prescription. Receipt of an opioid prescription ranged from 36.7% in those who underwent dilation and curettage to 79.5% of patients who underwent minimally invasive hysterectomy. Among patients who received a perioperative opioid prescription, the rate of new persistent opioid use overall was 6.8%. The rate of new persistent opioid use was 4.8% for myomectomy, 6.6% for minimally invasive hysterectomy, 6.7% for abdominal hysterectomy, 6.3% for endometrial ablation, 7.0% for tubal ligation, and 7.2% for dilation and curettage (P<.001). In a multivariable model, patients who underwent dilation and curettage and endometrial ablation were at highest risk for new persistent opioid use. Younger patients, Medicaid recipients, and patients with depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder more commonly had new persistent opioid use (P<.001 for all). Among women who received an opioid prescription, the rate of new persistent opioid use decreased over time from 7.0% in 2010 to 5.5% in 2016 (P<.001). CONCLUSION: The rate of new persistent opioid use after major and minor gynecologic procedures is substantial.

Effect of Minimum-Volume Standards on Patient Outcomes and Surgical Practice Patterns for Hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To model the effect of implementing minimum-volume standards for women who underwent hysterectomy on patient outcomes and surgeon practice patterns. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System to capture data for all women who underwent hysterectomy from 2010 to 2014. We estimated the number of hysterectomies performed by each patient's physician during the prior year. Multivariable models were used to estimate the ratio of observed to expected complications based on each surgeon's volume during the prior year. The mean observed/expected ratio of surgeons was then plotted by volume. The number of patients and surgeons who would be eliminated and the reduction in complications if minimum-volume standards (lowest fifth and 10th percentiles) were implemented were analyzed. Separate analyses were performed for each route of hysterectomy. RESULTS: We identified a total of 127,202 patients. For abdominal hysterectomy, increasing surgeon volume was associated with a decreasing rate of complications (P<.001). Overall, 17.5% of surgeons (n=1,260) had a prior year volume of one abdominal hysterectomy. The mean observed/expected ratio of surgeons with a prior year abdominal hysterectomy volume of one was 1.47 (SD 2.71). Within this group of surgeons, 31.4% had an observed/expected ratio of 1 or greater, indicating a higher than expected complication rate, and 68.7% of the surgeons had a observed/expected ratio of less than 1, suggesting a lower complication rate than expected based on case mix. Selection of a prior year volume standard of one would restrict 12.5% of surgeons performing robotic-assisted, 16.8% of those performing laparoscopic, and 27.6% of surgeons performing vaginal hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Implementing minimum-volume standards for hysterectomy, for even the lowest volume physicians, would restrict a significant number of gynecologic surgeons, including many with outcomes that are better than predicted.

Redefining stage I endometrial cancer: incorporating histology, a binary grading system, myometrial invasion, and lymph node assessment.

OBJECTIVE: We propose a new staging system for stage I endometrial cancer and compare its performance to the 1988 and 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) systems. METHODS: We analyzed patients with 1988 FIGO stage I endometrial cancer from January 1993 to August 2011. Low-grade carcinoma consisted of endometrioid grade 1 to grade 2 lesions. High-grade carcinoma consisted of endometrioid grade 3 or nonendometrioid carcinomas (serous, clear cell, and carcinosarcoma). The proposed system is as follows:IA. Low-grade carcinoma with less than half myometrial invasionIB. High-grade carcinoma with no myometrial invasionIC. Low-grade carcinoma with half or greater myometrial invasionID. High-grade carcinoma with any myometrial invasion RESULTS: Data from 1843 patients were analyzed. When patients were restaged with our proposed system, the 5-year overall survival significantly differed (P < 0.001): IA1, 96.7%; IA2, 92.2%; IB1, 92.2%; IB2, 76.4%; IC1, 83.9%; IC2, 78.6%; ID1, 81.1%; and ID2, 68.8%. The bootstrap-corrected concordance probability estimate for the proposed system was 0.627 (95% confidence interval, 0.590-0.664) and was superior to the concordance probability estimate of 0.530 (95% confidence interval, 0.516-0.544) for the 2009 FIGO system. CONCLUSIONS: By incorporating histological subtype, grade, myometrial invasion, and whether lymph nodes were removed, our proposed system for stage I endometrial cancer has a superior predictive ability over the 2009 FIGO staging system and provides a novel binary grading system (low-grade including endometrioid grade 1-2 lesions; high-grade carcinoma consisting of endometrioid grade 3 carcinomas and nonendometrioid carcinomas).

Adherence to evidence-based guidelines for preoperative testing in women undergoing gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine adherence to evidence-based recommendations for preoperative testing and health care costs associated with excessive testing. METHODS: An institutional review of women who underwent gynecologic surgery between 2005 and 2007 was performed. Data on the type of surgery, age, comorbidities, and perioperative testing was extracted. We noted the preoperative performance of chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, metabolic panel, complete blood count, coagulation studies, liver function tests, and urinalysis. Each test was classified as being guideline-based (appropriate) or non-guideline-based (inappropriate) as described by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence perioperative guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 1,402 patients were identified. Ninety-five percent of patients underwent all of the guideline-recommended preoperative testing. Ninety percent of women underwent at least one nonindicated preoperative test. None of the 749 urinalyses, 407 liver function tests, or 1,046 coagulation studies performed was appropriate. Ninety-nine percent of the 427 chest X-rays ordered were inappropriate. Only 17% of metabolic panels, 36% of electrocardiograms, and 29% of complete blood counts were in accordance with evidence-based guidelines. Inappropriate perioperative tests led to a direct cost of more than $418,000. Of the inappropriate tests ordered, abnormalities were noted frequently but rarely changed management. CONCLUSION: Adherence to evidence-based recommendations for preoperative testing is poor. Inappropriate preoperative tests represent a major health care expenditure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.