Trends in the Dispensing of Oral Anti-Cancer Medications Across Australia Over 10 Years.

PURPOSE

Oral anti-cancer medications (OAMs) are easily administered yet high-risk treatments. Few studies have investigated national and subnational trends in OAM dispensing. We aimed to examine 10-year trends in Australia's OAM dispensing at the national level as well as by state/territory and medication type/class.

METHODS

Aggregate data on Australia's OAM dispensing and population for 2014-2023 were sourced from Services Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, respectively. Annual OAM dispensing rates (counts per 100 000 population) were calculated overall as well as by state/territory and medication type/class. Percentage change (Δ) in dispensing rates from 2014 to 2023 was determined. Where valid, Mann-Kendall trend tests were performed.

RESULTS

Australia-wide from 2014 to 2023, dispensing counts per 100 000 population for any OAMs increased nonlinearly from 3 475 to 3 930 (+Δ13%), hormonal OAMs decreased nonlinearly from 2 659 to 2 225 (-Δ16%), and non-hormonal OAMs exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) near-linear upward trend from 816 to 1 705 (+Δ109%). This coincided with a significant upward trend in the number of unique non-hormonal OAMs dispensed Australia-wide (+Δ187%). Percentage changes in non-hormonal OAM dispensing rates were greatest for protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) dispensing Australia-wide (+Δ232%), with a significant, near-linear upward trend from 286 to 950, and non-hormonal OAM dispensing in South Australia (+Δ141%), with a significant, near-linear upward trend from 820 to 1972.

CONCLUSIONS

Australia's non-hormonal OAM dispensing increased over 2014-2023, mostly for PKIs. This likely reflects rising availability of and prescriber/patient demand for these medications, suggesting scope to pilot and expand OAM adherence and safety initiatives.