The cost of the inpatient management of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients – a micro‐costing study in the Irish healthcare setting. (29th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Brien, C.; Fogarty, E.; Walsh, C.; Dempsey, O.; Barry, M.; Kennedy, M.J.; McCullagh, L.
• Is Part Of: European journal of cancer care. Volume 24:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2014-01-29
• Subjects: Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12182
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-5423

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The objective was to evaluate the resource use and cost of hospitalisation for febrile neutropenia (FN) from the health‐payer's perspective. This was a single centre study. Adults undergoing chemotherapy, who were admitted for FN, were identified prospectively. Patient medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Demographics and resource utilisation data were obtained from a cohort of 32 patients (69% female, mean age = 58.8 years). Twenty‐five per cent of patients had more than one FN episode. In total, 42 FN episodes were captured; 60% of episodes had occurred within the first two cycles of chemotherapy. The bootstrap estimation was used to determine mean hospital length of stay (LOS) with standard deviation (±SD) and mean costs ± SD. The mean LOS was 7.3 ± 0.5 days. The mean cost per FN episode was €8915 ± 718. The major cost driver was hospital bed‐stay (mean cost of €6851 ± 549). Other cost drivers included antibacterial treatment at €760 ± 156, laboratory investigations at €538 ± 47 and the requirement for blood bank products at €525 ± 189. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the cost of chemotherapy induced FN within the context of the Irish healthcare setting.</p> </abstract>