Retrospective cost analysis of management of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients in Spain

AbstractBackground:Febrile neutropenia (FN) is associated with disruption of planned chemotherapy and increased management costs. However, the economic impact of FN in Spanish clinical practice has not been documented hitherto.Research design and methods:A multicenter, retrospective chart review of adults with breast or lung cancer or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who had ≥1 FN episode during chemotherapy. Resource use, direct costs, and FN effect on planned chemotherapy were assessed.Main outcome measures:238 episodes of FN were analyzed in 194 patients. The mean ± SD length of FN-related hospitalization was 8.7 ± 6.9 days (median [p25–p75] = 7 [5–11] days). At least one transfusion was needed in 77 (32.3%) FN episodes, blood tests were done in 233 (97.9%) and blood cultures in 207 (87.0%). Antibiotics were used in all episodes (100%), other drugs in 186 (78.2%) episodes and the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 161 (67.7%) episodes. The distribution of costs per episode of FN were: hospita...