Real-world costs of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the Netherlands

Abstract
We performed a comprehensive cost calculation identifying the main cost drivers of treatment of chroniclymphocytic leukaemia in daily practice. In our observational study 160 patient charts were reviewedrepeatedly to assess the treatment strategies from diagnosis till the study end. Ninety-seven patients(61%) received ≥1 treatment lines during an average follow-up time of 6.4 years. The average total costsper patient were D 41,417 (D 539 per month). The costs varied considerably between treatment groupsand between treatment lines. Although patients were treated with expensive chemo(immuno-)therapy, the main cost driver was inpatient days for other reasons than administration of chemo(immuno-)therapy.