Assessing the Characteristics and Economic Burden of Febrile Neutropenia Associated With Antineoplastic Therapy at a...

Febrile neutropenia (FN) after antineoplastic therapy is common and associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenses. Few studies have evaluated its economic impact. This study aimed to evaluate hospitalization costs associated with FN at a comprehensive cancer center in Jordan.

This retrospective study included adult cancer patients hospitalized because of FN between January 2020 and December 2023. FN was defined as an absolute neutrophil count < 0.5 × 10⁹/L and a single oral temperature ≥38.3 °C or ≥38.0 °C sustained for at least 1 hour. Patients were identified using the institution's adverse drug reaction documentation system, and ADR characteristics were extracted. Hospital length of stay and ICU admission were evaluated. Direct medical costs were estimated from the payer's perspective. Unadjusted cost comparisons were performed by malignancy type, and multivariable generalized linear regression was used to examine factors independently associated with total hospitalization cost.

During the study period, 691 FN episodes were reported, and 589 patients were included. The mean age was 49 ± 14 years and 64% were female. The median hospitalization cost was US$ 2565(IQR, 1499-5830), with a median length of stay of 5(IQR, 3-7) days; 64 patients (9%) required ICU admission. Median costs were higher among patients with hematologic malignancies compared with solid tumors. Cancer type and hospital length of stay were independently associated with total hospitalization cost in multivariable analysis.

Hospitalization because of FN imposes a substantial economic burden, especially in hematological malignancies, highlighting the importance of preventive strategies and efficient resource utilization in oncology.