Finnish hospital data lakes can be adapted to analysis of complex treatment patterns, outcomes and healthcare burden in multiple myeloma

Our latest multiple myeloma publication describes how complex multiple myeloma treatment patterns were assembled from data available in the Helsinki University Hospital data lake, Finland, how the treatments have changed in 2013–2019, and what the estimated treatment costs are in multiple myeloma. The study published online in October 2023 was carried out by the experts at Medaffcon Oy, Sanofi Oy, and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.

The availability of stem cell transplantation (SCT) and novel immunochemotherapies (ICTs) have improved the outcomes of multiple myeloma therapies. However, it is not clear in a big picture how treatment patterns have changed longitudinally and what is the magnitude of burden associated with the treatment and follow-up of multiple myeloma in Finland.

We analyzed hospital data lake data and examined 509 adult MM patients treated with ICTs in 2013–2019 in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland. Compared with a nontransplant group, patients eligible for stem cell transplantation had a better 5-year survival rate (74.4 % vs 44.0 %) but used high levels of specialty care resources.

At seven years of the follow-up of the 509 patients, total estimated cumulative any-cause specialty care costs per patient, excluding medications, were approximately 148 000 euros (95 % CI: 134 000–161 000) in SCT-eligible patients and 64 000 euros (95 % CI: 58 000–70 000) in non-eligible individuals. Respective average per patient year costs were 33 000 euros (95 % CI: 30 000–37 000) and 21 000 euros (95 % CI: 18 000–22 000). The treatment costs of patients with better survival continued growing for several years after diagnosis.

This study highlights the value of hospital data lakes and computer-assisted analysis of large patient cohorts with complex treatment patterns. These results are valuable to strategies combatting the healthcare burden in the management of multiple myeloma.