Background: ICI are used routinely for treatment of lung cancer. We investigated the utilization of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for NSCLC in the VHA. Methods: The VHA Corporate Data Warehouse was queried for data on ICI utilization in NSCLC [IRB #00113521]. The first date of any ICI dispensed was January 6, 2015 and therefore this investigation evaluated all patients diagnosed with NSCLC between 2015 –2019. Results: A total of 27,586 Veterans were diagnosed with NSCLC during the study period with demographics: 76.3% Caucasian, 16.3% black; 97.0% male; median age 71 years. Stage distribution was 27.9%, 7.9%, 15.8%, and 27.0% for stage I, II, III, or IV, respectively. A total of 3,990 patients were identified to have received any ICI, representing 20.1% of patients diagnosed with stage IV; 159 patients received more than one ICI. The median time from stage IV diagnosis to receipt of ICI was 5 months (IQR: 2-9 months). ICI was dispensed in 83.7% for duration of < 1 year, 13.3% for 1-2 years, and 3% for > = 2 years. The median duration of ICI receipt (with IQR in months): Nivolumab = 2.0 (0.5-5.5), Pembrolizumab = 2.1 (0.3-5.9), Durvalumab = 5.1 (1.8-9.2), and Atezolizumab = 0.3 (0.1-2.1). Multivariable analyses demonstrated female, not married, 0 comorbidity, and higher stage (II-IV) were independently associated with shorter time to receipt of ICI. Conclusions: The use of ICI for NSCLC is increasing within this integrated healthcare system and commonly prescribed within 5 months of stage IV diagnosis. Further investigations of this cohort using available clinical, pharmaceutical, and genomic data within the VHA present an opportunity to enhance our understanding of the efficacy of ICI for NSCLC.

Frequency of patients receiving ICI per calendar year.