Hospitalizations in Australian children with neuroblastoma: A population-based study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Increasing survival rates for pediatric neuroblastoma, encompassing both low- and high-risk cases.
• Intensive, multimodal treatments for neuroblastoma, particularly high-risk forms, lead to substantial long-term health issues.
• Need to characterize the post-treatment health journey of neuroblastoma survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe pediatric hospitalizations and readmissions among neuroblastoma survivors.
• To analyze the associated healthcare costs for neuroblastoma survivors.
• To identify patterns in readmissions and their primary causes.

Main Methods:

• Population-based study of children (<18 years) in New South Wales, Australia (2001-2020).
• Utilized linked Admitted Patient Data Collection and death registration data.
• Examined hospitalizations, length of stay, readmissions, and costs following the index neuroblastoma diagnosis admission.

Main Results:

• 300 children hospitalized for neuroblastoma; 64% were under 3 years old.
• Median of 17 readmissions and 45.5 days length of stay within 2 years post-discharge.
• Median cost per child was AUD$124,058, with 58% of readmissions occurring within 1 year, often for fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and respiratory issues.

Conclusions:

• Neuroblastoma survivors incur significant healthcare costs due to recurrent hospitalizations.
• There is a substantial burden of health problems requiring hospitalization among these survivors.
• Optimizing healthcare for neuroblastoma survivors necessitates early intervention and continuous long-term monitoring.