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Cost-effectiveness of home-based care of febrile neutropenia in children with cancer
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  • Michelle Tew,
  • Richard De Abreu Lourenco,
  • Joshua Gordon,
  • Karin Thursky,
  • Monica Slavin,
  • Franz Babl,
  • Lisa Orme,
  • Penelope Bryant,
  • Benjamin Teh,
  • Kim Dalziel,
  • Gabrielle Haeusler
Michelle Tew
University of Melbourne

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Richard De Abreu Lourenco
University of Technology Sydney
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Joshua Gordon
University of Melbourne
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Karin Thursky
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Monica Slavin
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Franz Babl
Royal Children's Hospital
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Lisa Orme
Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute
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Penelope Bryant
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
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Benjamin Teh
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Kim Dalziel
University of Melbourne
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Gabrielle Haeusler
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION Home-based treatment of low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN) in children with cancer with oral or intravenous antibiotics is safe and effective. There are limited data on the economic impact of this model of care. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of implementing a low-risk FN program, incorporating home-based intravenous antibiotics, in a tertiary pediatric hospital. METHODS A decision analytic model was constructed to compare costs and outcomes of the low-risk FN program, with usual in-hospital treatment with intravenous antibiotics. The program included a clinical decision rule to identify patients at low-risk for severe infection and home-based eligibility criteria using disease, chemotherapy and patient-level factors. Health outcomes (quality-of-life) and probabilities of FN risk classification and home-based eligibility were based on prospectively collected data. Patient-level costs were extracted from hospital records. Cost-effectiveness was expressed as the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). FINDINGS The mean healthcare cost of home-based FN treatment in low-risk patients was A$7,765 per patient compared to A$20,396 for in-hospital treatment (mean difference A$12,632 (95% CI,12,496-12,767)). Overall, the low-risk FN program was the dominant strategy, being more effective (0.0011 QALY (95% CI,0.0011-0.0012)) and less costly. Results of the model were most sensitive to proportion of children eligible for home-based care program. CONCLUSION Compared to in-hospital FN care, the low-risk FN program is cost-effective, with savings arising from cheaper cost of caring for children at home. These savings could increase as more patients eligible for home-based care are included in the program.
14 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
14 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
14 Aug 2021Submitted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer
16 Aug 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
10 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
10 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
10 Oct 20211st Revision Received
11 Oct 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Jul 2022Published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer volume 69 issue 7. 10.1002/pbc.29469