Epidemiology, patient adherence, and costs of oral mucositis in routine care in stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: Limited data about oral mucositis (OM) in stem cell transplant patients with underlying hematological disease is available in Germany. The purpose of this feasibility study was to determine the incidence, treatment patterns, patients' adherence, and costs of OM. METHODS: Prospective, noninterventional single-center observational study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: allogenic/autologous stem cell transplant patients ≥ 18 years, high-dose chemotherapy. OM assessment: WHO Oral Toxicity Scale. Adherence was measured in patient interviews. Preventive and therapeutic measures were extracted from patients' charts. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (25 allogenic, 20 autologous) were enrolled. Twenty-six (58%) patients developed OM (54% grade I/II, 46% grade III/IV). Age ≥ 65 (31% vs 69%, p = 0.021) was associated with a lower OM incidence. A positive history of smoking (1.77 vs 2.69, p = 0.036) was associated with a lower OM grade, patients with unrelated donors (2.63 vs 1.29, p = 0.014) were associated with higher OM grades and females (80% vs 47%, RR = 1.71, p = 0.035) with a higher incidence. OM patients were less adherent to recommended daily mouth rinses (35% vs 68%, p = 0.027). More analgesic treatment (80% vs 32%, p = 0.001) and intravenous opioids (24% vs 0%, p = 0.023) were prescribed in OM patients. Total drug treatment and nutrition costs were 824€ (p = 0.037) higher in autologous transplanted patients. CONCLUSION: Initial risk and consecutive OM assessment, determination of patients' adherence, resource consumption, and costs are prerequisites to evaluate OM care. In the best case, several centers will follow the same methodological approach and the collected data will serve as a basis for benchmarking analyses to optimize OM care where required.

How much blood is needed?

Demographic changes in developed countries as their populations age lead to a steady increase in the consumption of standard blood components. Complex therapeutic procedures like haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, cardiovascular surgery and solid organ transplantation are options for an increasing proportion of older patients nowadays. This trend is likely to continue in coming years. On the other hand, novel aspects in transplant regimens, therapies for malignant diseases, surgical procedures and perioperative patient management have led to a moderate decrease in blood product consumption per individual procedure. The ageing of populations in developed countries, intra-society changes in the attitude towards blood donation as an important altruistic behaviour and the overall alterations in our societies will lead to a decline in regular blood donations over the next decades in many developed countries. Artificial blood substitutes or in vitro stem cell-derived blood components might also become alternatives in the future. However, such substitutes are still in early stages of development and will therefore probably not alleviate this problem within the next few years. Taken together, a declining donation rate and an increase in the consumption of blood components require novel approaches on both sides of the blood supply chain. Different blood donor groups require specific approaches and, for example, inactive or deferred donors must be re-activated. Optimal use of blood components requires even more attention.