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Research Article

Economic impact of disease progression in follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma

, , , , , & show all
Pages 2117-2123 | Received 07 Dec 2010, Accepted 15 May 2011, Published online: 12 Jul 2011
 

Abstract

Using a retrospective claims database, we estimated the economic costs of progression among patients with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma (f-NHL) treated in an outpatient community-based setting. Patients with f-NHL who received care between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2009 were categorized into two cohorts based on whether they experienced progressive disease (PD) or not. Costs per patient per month (PPPM) were compared between patients with PD versus non-PD. Follow-up time was censored at the last entry for disease status or 6 months after the date of remission/stable disease or progression. Of the 1002 patients with f-NHL identified, 268 progressed and 734 did not. The mean overall costs PPPM over the 6-month follow-up period were significantly higher for patients with PD versus non-PD ($3527 vs. $860; difference = $2667; p < 0.001). This cost difference persisted within all resource categories evaluated. Results of this study indicate that therapies which delay progression for patients with f-NHL may result in potential cost savings.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Steven Gruschkus, PhD, for input on the initial study design and analysis plan and Jia Li, PhD, for thoughtful review and comments on the manuscript. This research was sponsored by Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California.

Potential conflict of interest:

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.informahealthcare.com/lal.