Eight-Year Trends in Megestrol Acetate Prescription Among Korean Patients with Biliary-Pancreatic Cancer and Their Impact

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Megestrol acetate prescriptions for biliary-pancreatic cancer patients increased significantly over 8 years, with long-term users having higher anticoagulant prescription rates than non-users.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Biliary tract cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Intervention: Megestrol acetate vs. Not on long-term megestrol acetate. Primary outcome: Megestrol acetate prescription trends, thrombosis, and anti-coagulant prescription rates (p=< 0.0001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Megestrol acetate prescriptions for biliary-pancreatic cancer patients increased significantly over an eight-year period, with long-term megestrol acetate users exhibiting higher anticoagulant prescription rates. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To analyze long-term trends in megestrol acetate prescriptions and evaluate the associated rates of thrombosis and anticoagulant use among patients with biliary-pancreatic cancers.

Hoonji Oh; Ju Won Kim

doi:10.1080/01635581.2025.2508536

May 26, 2025Nutrition and Cancer

Eight-Year Trends in Megestrol Acetate Prescription Among Korean Patients with Biliary-Pancreatic Cancer and Their Impact

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Key result

Megestrol acetate use is linked to higher anticoagulant prescription rates in biliary-pancreatic cancer patients.

P<0.0001

Why the study?

Does megestrol acetate prescription increase the risk of thrombosis and anticoagulant use in patients with biliary-pancreatic cancer?

Key Points

To analyze long-term trends in megestrol acetate prescriptions and evaluate the associated rates of thrombosis and anticoagulant use among patients with biliary-pancreatic cancers.
Evaluated national healthcare data from the Health Insurance and Review Assessment Service database in South Korea from 2009 to 2016.
Tracked prescription trends of megestrol acetate alongside diagnosed thrombosis events and anticoagulant prescriptions in patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Prescription rates for megestrol acetate increased significantly across the eight-year study interval (p < 0.0001).
Thrombosis incidence rose from 5.58% to 7.62% in BTC patients and from 6.83% to 12.47% in PDAC patients between 2009 and 2016.
Anticoagulant prescription rates increased from 0.84% to 16.97% in BTC and from 2.37% to 15.96% in PDAC, with significantly higher rates observed among patients receiving long-term megestrol acetate.

Study Design

Type

Observational

Structured PICO

Does megestrol acetate prescription increase the risk of thrombosis and anticoagulant use in patients with biliary-pancreatic cancer?

P

Population

Korean patients with biliary tract cancer or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma analyzed over an 8-year period (2009-2016).

E

Exposure

Megestrol acetate (MA) prescription

C

Comparator

Patients not on long-term MA

O

Outcome

MA prescription rates, thrombosis rates, and anti-coagulant prescription ratessafety

Main Result

p-value: p=< 0.0001

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

Megestrol acetate use in biliary-pancreatic cancer patients is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis and subsequent anticoagulant prescriptions over time.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced anorexia and cachexia are significant challenges for patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Megestrol acetate (MA), used to manage anorexia, has side effects and may trigger prescription cascades in cancer treatment. This study analyzed MA prescription trends and associated effects in BTC or PDAC patients. METHODS: MA prescription rates among BTC or PDAC patients were examined using data from the Health Insurance and Review Assessment Service database in Korea. We investigated thrombosis and anti-coagulant prescription rates during the same period. In 2009, thrombosis was diagnosed in 5.58% of BTC patients and 6.83% of PDAC patients, rising to 7.62% and 12.47% by 2016. Anticoagulant prescriptions also increased, from 0.84% to 16.97% for BTC patients and from 2.37% to 15.96% for PDAC patients. CONCLUSION: MA prescriptions for BTC or PDAC patients increased significantly over 8 years. Patients on long-term MA had higher anticoagulant prescription rates compared to those not on long-term MA.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Oh et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Biliary tract cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Megestrol acetate vs. Not on long-term megestrol acetate was evaluated on Megestrol acetate prescription trends, thrombosis, and anti-coagulant prescription rates (p=< 0.0001). Megestrol acetate prescriptions for biliary-pancreatic cancer patients increased significantly over 8 years, with long-term users having higher anticoagulant prescription rates than non-users.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa26f17a25963cecb13a06f https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2025.2508536

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Eight-Year Trends in Megestrol Acetate Prescription Among Korean Patients with Biliary-Pancreatic Cancer and Their Impact

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Eight-Year Trends in Megestrol Acetate Prescription Among Korean Patients with Biliary-Pancreatic Cancer and Their Impact

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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