Susan Jick1, Lin Li2, Victor M Gastanaga3, Alexander Liede4. 1. Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Boston University School of Public Health, 11 Muzzey Street, Lexington, MA 02421, USA. Electronic address: sjick@bu.edu. 2. Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Boston University School of Public Health, 11 Muzzey Street, Lexington, MA 02421, USA. Electronic address: linli07@bu.edu. 3. Amgen Inc., Center for Observational Research, One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA. Electronic address: vgastana@amgen.com. 4. Amgen Inc., Center for Observational Research, One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA. Electronic address: aliede@amgen.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The reported proportion of cancer patients who experience hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) ranges between 3% and 30%. HCM can be observed with any type of tumor and occurs most commonly in lung cancer, breast cancer and multiple myeloma. While HCM is a potentially fatal condition, the prevalence of HCM is not well defined. METHODS: Using the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we identified adult cancer patients with recorded corrected serum calcium (CSC). Hypercalcemic patients (CSC ≥ 10.8 mg/dL) were classified into 4 CSC levels. We estimated annual prevalence of HCM overall, stratified by cancer type, and in patients with stage IV cancer. RESULTS: Among 37,442 cancer patients in 2003-2012 the prevalence of grade 1 HCM increased from 0.13% to 0.45% and the prevalence of HCM overall (grade 1 or higher) increased from 0.20% to 0.67% over the study period. Prevalence estimates varied across cancer type and were highest for lung cancer, multiple myeloma and patients with stage IV cancer. CONCLUSION: We provide the first systematic analysis using a UK population-based data source to estimate number of cancer patients affected with HCM by grade. The increase in HCM prevalence over the 10-year study period is likely due to the increased recording of laboratory values, particularly comparing more recent data to 2003. Our findings suggest that HCM in general is not a common condition.
BACKGROUND: The reported proportion of cancerpatients who experience hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) ranges between 3% and 30%. HCM can be observed with any type of tumor and occurs most commonly in lung cancer, breast cancer and multiple myeloma. While HCM is a potentially fatal condition, the prevalence of HCM is not well defined. METHODS: Using the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we identified adult cancerpatients with recorded corrected serum calcium (CSC). Hypercalcemic patients (CSC ≥ 10.8 mg/dL) were classified into 4 CSC levels. We estimated annual prevalence of HCM overall, stratified by cancer type, and in patients with stage IV cancer. RESULTS: Among 37,442 cancerpatients in 2003-2012 the prevalence of grade 1 HCM increased from 0.13% to 0.45% and the prevalence of HCM overall (grade 1 or higher) increased from 0.20% to 0.67% over the study period. Prevalence estimates varied across cancer type and were highest for lung cancer, multiple myeloma and patients with stage IV cancer. CONCLUSION: We provide the first systematic analysis using a UK population-based data source to estimate number of cancerpatients affected with HCM by grade. The increase in HCM prevalence over the 10-year study period is likely due to the increased recording of laboratory values, particularly comparing more recent data to 2003. Our findings suggest that HCM in general is not a common condition.