title: Economic impact of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia in breast cancer: estimates from two national databases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the economic burden of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia in female breast cancer hospital admissions in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective database analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female admissions with a breast cancer diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By reviewing two national databases (Healthcare Costs and Utilization Project, MarketScan), length of stay and charge or payment/admission were estimated from 1994-1996. Neutropenic and febrile neutropenic admissions were longer and incurred higher charges and payments than nonneutropenic and afebrile neutropenic admissions, respectively (p<0.05). The difference in mean charges between neutropenic and nonneutropenic admissions decreased from $13,143 in 1994 to $6913 in 1996, whereas the difference in payment was $4957 (adjusted to 1996 dollars). The difference in mean charges between febrile and afebrile neutropenic admissions decreased from $11,570 in 1994 to $2873 in 1996, whereas the difference in payment was $2390 (adjusted to 1996 dollars).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a trend toward decreased charges for inpatient admissions with neutropenia in patients with breast cancer (1994-1996). Interventions that reduce the frequency of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia could reduce hospitalization costs of breast cancer admissions.
authors.affiliation: Global Health Outcomes, Pharmacia Corporation, Skokie, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arguelles
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Boyer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents