Table 2.
Medications Received for Symptom Management During EOL-1 Among Patients With Lung Cancer in the Outpatient Setting (N = 16,246)
| Claim Type | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A or B | Part D | Any | ||
| Symptom | Medication | N (%) | ||
| Dyspnea | Any | 1489 (9.2) | 11,278 (69.5) | 11,475 (70.7) |
| Inhaled bronchodilators or corticosteroids | 1477 (9.1) | 5717 (35.2) | 6394 (39.4) | |
| Diuretics | 5215 (32.1) | 5215 (32.1) | ||
| Oral COPD/asthma | 974 (6.0) | 974 (6.0) | ||
| Secretion management | 17 (0.1) | 118 (0.7) | 134 (0.8) | |
| Pain | Any | 1213 (7.5) | 9863 (60.7) | 10,144 (62.5) |
| Opioids | 1133 (7.0) | 8565 (52.7) | 8890 (54.7) | |
| Short-acting opioids | 8373 (51.6) | 8373 (51.6) | ||
| Long-acting opioids | 2651 (16.3) | 2651 (16.3) | ||
| Nonopioid | 132 (0.8) | 3767 (23.2) | 3846 (23.7) | |
| NSAIDS | 132 (0.8) | 1210 (7.5) | 1315 (8.1) | |
| Local anesthetics | 677 (4.2) | 677 (4.2) | ||
| Adjuvant | 2404 (14.8) | 2404 (14.8) | ||
| Antiepileptics | 2149 (13.2) | 2149 (13.2) | ||
| Selected antidepressantsa | 358 (2.2) | 358 (2.2) | ||
| Emotional distress | Any | 1165 (7.2) | 7371 (45.4) | 8014 (49.4) |
| Antidepressants | 4855 (29.9) | 4855 (29.9) | ||
| Anxiolytics/sedatives | 1150 (7.1) | 3610 (22.2) | 4480 (27.6) | |
| Antipsychotics | 38 (0.2) | 848 (5.2) | 879 (5.4) | |
| Fatigue | Any | 3161 (19.5) | 106 (0.7) | 3233 (19.9) |
| Other—methylphenidate | 96 (0.6) | 96 (0.6) | ||
| Transfusions (RBC) | 2616 (16.1) | 2616 (16.1) | ||
| ESAs | 879 (5.4) | 106 (0.7) | 981 (6.0) | |
| Anorexia | Appetite stimulant | 3479 (21.4) | 3479 (21.4) | |
| Nausea/vomiting | Any | 1161 (7.2) | 2343 (14.4) | 3126 (19.2) |
| Serotonin (5-HT3) antagonists | 1094 (6.7) | 851 (5.2) | 1790 (11.0) | |
| Neurokinin-1 antagonist | 48 (0.3) | 12 (0.1) | 57 (0.4) | |
| Prochlorperazine/promethazine | 80 (0.5) | 1109 (6.8) | 1171 (7.2) | |
| Cannabinoid | 215 (1.3) | 215 (1.3) | ||
| Other—metoclopramide | 505 (3.1) | 505 (3.1) | ||
| Oral corticosteroids | Oral corticosteroids | 116 (0.7) | 4801 (29.6) | 4801 (29.6) |
EOL = end of life; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NSAIDS = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; RBC = red blood cell; ESA = erythropoietin-stimulating agents; 5-HT3 = 5-hydroxytryptamine 3.
a
Includes amitriptyline, desipramine, and nortriptyline.
Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database, 2008–2013.