Abstract:

Objective To analyse the constitution of direct medical costs of chemotherapy for lung cancer during hospital stay and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Methods The clinical data of 236 patients with lung cancer were selected. The direct medical cost of chemotherapy for lung cancer during hospital stay was investigated according to different treatment aims, and the direct medical cost of management of ADRs of hematological system and gastrointestinal tract was also analysed. Results The mean direct medical cost of chemotherapy for lung cancer during each hospital stay was (16 461.89±8 284.78) yuan per person, which included (13 648.16±906.52) yuan for drugs of chemotherapy. The expenditure of ADRs of 0 to Ⅳ degree bone marrow depression accounted for 1.93%, 8.43%, 18.37%, 40.09% and 46.62% of direct medical cost of chemotherapy respectively, and there were significant differences in the direct medical cost of ADRs and direct medical cost of chemotherapy between patients with severe bone marrow depression (Ⅲ to Ⅳ degree) and those without severe bone marrow depression (0 to Ⅱ degree)(P<0.05). The expenditure of 0 to Ⅳ degree ADRs of gastrointestinal tract accounted for 3.48%, 3.28%, 4.63%, 5.85% and 9.92% of direct medical cost of chemotherapy respectively, and there was no significant difference in the direct medical cost of ADRs and direct medical cost of chemotherapy between patients with severe ADRs of gastrointestinal tract (Ⅲ to Ⅳ degree) and those without severe ADRs of gastrointestinal tract (0 to Ⅱ degree)(P>0.05). Conclusion The cost of drugs occupies the major proportion of direct medical cost of chemotherapy for lung cancer. More severe bone marrow depression may lead to higher direct medical cost of chemotherapy. However, ADRs of gastrointestinal tract may have little effect on direct medical cost of chemotherapy.

Key words: lung cancer, chemotherapy, adverse drug reactions, pharmacoeconomics