Cost drivers associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in Japan: A structural equation model (SEM)...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Economics
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with increasing prevalence in Japan.
• Patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL (rrDLBCL) face significant economic burdens and poorer survival outcomes with subsequent treatment lines.
• Understanding cost drivers is crucial for managing healthcare expenditures in rrDLBCL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of patient attributes on total medical costs for rrDLBCL patients undergoing second or third line (2L/3L) therapy.
• To identify key drivers of medical costs in rrDLBCL patients receiving advanced treatment lines in Japan.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Japanese retrospective claims database for rrDLBCL patients on 2L or 3L therapy.
• Employed structural equation modeling to analyze cost drivers of total medical costs.
• Grouped patients into 2L and 3L treatment cohorts for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Mean total medical costs were comparable between the 2L ($73,296.40 USD) and 3L ($75,238.35 USD) cohorts.
• Length of hospital stay (LOS) was the primary driver of total medical costs in both cohorts (β: 0.750 for 2L, β: 0.762 for 3L).
• Heart disease complications emerged as another significant cost driver, particularly in relation to treatment lines.

Conclusions:

• Length of hospital stay and heart disease complications are the principal determinants of total medical costs for rrDLBCL patients on 2L/3L therapy.
• These findings highlight critical areas for cost-containment strategies in managing advanced rrDLBCL.
• Further research into mitigating LOS and managing cardiac comorbidities could reduce the economic burden of rrDLBCL treatment.