Haematologica
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Haematologica, Vol 92, Issue 5, 666-673 doi:10.3324/haematol.10324
Copyright © 2007 by Ferrata Storti Foundation
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Supportive Therapy

Cost analysis of a domiciliary program of supportive and palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies

Claudio Cartoni, Gregorio Antonio Brunetti, Gianna Maria D’Elia, Massimo Breccia, Pasquale Niscola, Maria Giulia Marini, Antonio Nastri, Giuliana Alimena, Franco Mandelli, Robin Foà

From the Division of Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Policlinico Umberto I, University "La Sapienza" of Rome, Italy (CC, GAB, GMD’E, MB, GA, RF); Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Eugenio, Rome, Italy (PN); Italian Association against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma (AIL) (FM); Istituto Studi Direzionali (ISTUD), Milan, Italy (MGM, AN)

Correspondence: Claudio Cartoni, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Policlinico Umberto I, via Benevento 6, 00161 Rome, Italy. E-mail: cartoni{at}bce.uniroma1.it

The costs of home care (HC) programs may be tailored to the specific needs of patients with hematological malignancies. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of resources and the costs of a program of HC for four different prognostic groups of patients subdivided according to disease status. Over 2 years, 144 patients with hematological malignancies were assisted at home. Patients were subdivided according to disease status and life expectancy in the following groups: (i) terminal phase, with a life expectancy of 3 months or less; (ii) advanced phase, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less; (iii) chronic phase, with a life expectancy of more than 6 months; (iv) discharged early from the hospital with curable disease, following anticancer chemotherapy. Median mean monthly costs (MMC) in Euro ({euro}) have been compared with the costs of hospitalization (DRG). Among the 4 groups of patients, those discharged early and in terminal phase required the highest mean monthly number of home visits (27.2 and 24.1), transfusions (6.1 and 6.8) and days of care (22.8 and 19.7) respectively. MMC were affected by the following variables: disease status and transfusion requirements. MMC for terminal patients (4,232.50{euro}) and those discharged early (3,986.40{euro}) were higher than those for advanced (2,303.80{euro}) and chronic patients (1,488,30{euro}). The cost of HC was lower than the corresponding DRG charges, but exceeded the district fares for HC of cancer patients. In hematological patients, the costs of HC differ according to disease status and transfusion requirements. For some categories of patients, costs of HC are lower than those of hospitalization, although higher than the current national fares for HC programs.

Key words: home care, supportive care, palliative care, hematological malignancies.






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