[Cost analysis of Shenqi Fuzheng injection on reducing adverse effects during chemotherapy].
OBJECTIVE
The goals of this work was to analyse the cost of Shenqi Fuzheng injection-an extraction of a Chinese traditional herbs on reducing adverse effects in lung cancer patients during chemotherapy.


METHODS
In a randomized cross-over trial, each patient completed two identical cisplatin-based chemotherapy cycles, one with Shenqi Fuzheng injection, another without Shenqi Fuzheng injection. Adverse effects and change scores of quality of life (QOL) during chemotherapy were compared in tow cycles. The direct cost dealing with adverse effect and cost-effectiveness analysis were taken.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty were enrolled with 123 of whom were evaluable. The patient characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. The chemotherapy cycles with Shenqi Fuzheng injection spent 220.5 more Chinese yuan, but the adverse effect of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and vomiting were slight different and the change of score of several QOL domains showed significant better as compared to those in another cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
Shenqi Fuzheng injection could reduce the severity of toxicity related to chemotherapy and improve the QOL of patients and had some benefits in terms of cost-effectiveness.
Bai
Chang-qing
CQ
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Ni
Dian-tao
DT
Li
Ning-xiu
NX
Liu
Guan-jian
GJ
Dong
Bi-rong
BR
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal