[Economic analysis of home based versus hospital outpatient chemotherapy in stage IV non small cell lung cancer].
BACKGROUND
French law and government decisions have induced new development for home base treatments. The objective was to compare cost of home base chemotherapy (HBC) versus outpatient infusions, for non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
10 patients were selected in each category. D8 of their cycles was performed at home compared to outpatient infusion. Costs were based on national fees with cytostatic drugs as supplement. The real cost was also assessed through a specific questionnaire.


RESULTS
30 D8 infusions were carried out at hospital and 24 D8 infusions at home. Average cost by cycle was 2,829.51 euros [2 560.74-3 147.02] for hospital infusion, 2,372.50 euros [1 962.75-2 792.88] for HBC (-16.15%). Difference was -457.01 euros by cycle [-919.74; 26.82]. Real costs by injection for BHC was 484.42 euros [424.18; 540.32] versus a fee of 699.89 euros [643.64; 750.23]. There were no difference in terms of adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
HBC for NSCLC is feasible. Average costs by cycle is lower of 16% versus hospital infusion. The results of this non randomized study had to be confirm by further clinical trials.
Vergnenègre
A
A
Service de l'Information Médicale et de l'Evaluation, Hôpital du Cluzeau, CHU de Limoges, France. alain.vergnenegre@unilim.fr
Decroisette
C
C
Vincent
F
F
Dalmay
F
F
Melloni
B
B
Bonnaud
F
F
Eichler
B
B
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005602:France; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged