Mikhael, J.

7091 Background: Mortality in patients with MDS is high, and most require transfusions, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations. The relationship between these outcomes with the key complications of MDS (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia) has not been well studied. Methods: Patients who were ≥ 66 years at MDS diagnosis in 2001 or 2002 were identified from SEER registries. Those with both Medicare Part A and B were followed until death or the end of 2005. Mortality, transfusions, ED visits, and hospitalizations were based on Medicare data. The presence of complications was based on diagnosis codes, transfusions, and medication use. Kaplan-Meier incidence was estimated for each outcome. Factors associated with each outcome were based on multivariable Cox models with baseline age, gender, race, co-morbidity level, socio-economic status indicators, and time-varying covariates for each complication. Results: In 1,863 MDS patients, the 3-month incidence of transfusion, ED and hospitalization was 45%, 41%, and 62%, and 3-year incidence was 75%, 87%, and 91% respectively. Median survival was 22 months. The 3-year incidence of anemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia was 89%, 37%, and 15% respectively. See table for multivariate results. Conclusions: Starting shortly after diagnosis, MDS patients have high rates of transfusions, ED visits, and hospitalizations. Diagnoses of anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia are strongly associated with this utilization. The presence of anemia and thrombocytopenia are important independent risk factors for death. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]