Incidence, evolution and risk factors of hypophosphatemia in patients with solid tumors receiving ferric carboxymaltose: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is increasingly used in the management of cancer-related anemia, yet it may cause hypophosphatemia. This retrospective study describes the incidence, evolution and risk factors of hypophosphatemia in a cohort of patients with solid tumors receiving FCM.

METHODS: Serum phosphorus concentration was assessed longitudinally using a random intercepts model. The probability of developing hypophosphatemia, as graded by CTCAE version 4.0, was investigated using a multi-state model. Transition hazards were modeled non-parametrically and semi-parametrically by a Cox model. Causal marginal risk differences between baseline interventions on serum phosphorus and/or FCM dose were obtained via G-computation.

RESULTS: In 174 ambulatory patients with solid tumors receiving FCM at two university hospitals between October 2020 and September 2021, the risk of developing moderate-to-severe hypophosphatemia was 36.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 28.2-43.9%) and peaked within 16 days after first FCM administration. The average duration of moderate-to-severe hypophosphatemia was 12.4 days. After adjustment for confounders, lower baseline serum phosphorus (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.88 per 0.1 mmol/L increase, 95% CI 0.79-0.98) and higher FCM dose (first dose: aHR 1.12 per 1 mg/kg increase, 95% CI 1.01-1.25; second dose: aHR 1.06 per 1 mg/kg increase, 95% CI 1.00-1.13) significantly increased the hazard of moderate-to-severe hypophosphatemia.

CONCLUSION: Approximately one out of three ambulatory patients with solid tumors may develop moderate-to-severe hypophosphatemia after FCM administration. Baseline serum phosphorus and FCM dose may be modifiable risk factors that should be considered for intervention in order to mitigate the risk of hypophosphatemia.