BEYOND SURVIVAL: HOW NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA IMPACTS WELL-BEING AND FINANCES COMPARED TO OTHER CANCERS
Author(s)
Alexis R. Carriere, Pharm D Candidate;
Ferris State University, Chapter President, Big Rapids, MI, USA
Ferris State University, Chapter President, Big Rapids, MI, USA
OBJECTIVES: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is associated with treatment complexity, frequent immunotherapy use, and long-term survivorship challenges. Nationally representative data describing health care expenditures and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adults with NHL remain limited. The objectives are to evaluate health care expenditures and characterize physical/mental HRQoL among U.S. adults with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2021-2023.
METHODS: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional analysis of 2021-2023 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated, Medical Conditions, and Event Files. Adults ≥18 years with self-reported cancer were identified. NHL was defined using MEPS condition variable CALYMPH. Comparator patients included adults with other cancers. Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures were defined as self/family payments. HRQoL was assessed using VR-12 items.
RESULTS: From 2021 to 2023, the estimated population of adults with NHL increased from approximately 784,000 to over 1.04 million. Total annual health care expenditures for NHL patients were higher than other cancer patients, peaking at over $31,400 in 2023. Mean OOP expenditures among NHL patients increased over time, reaching $1,803.13 in 2023. The percentage of NHL patients rating general health as fair/poor decreased from 40.5% (2021) to 17.2% (2023). Patients who accomplished less due to physical health declined from 36.5% to 20.3%. Prevalence of physical limitations remained high, indicating continued symptom and functional burden despite broader health perception improvements.
CONCLUSIONS: Using MEPS data from 2021-2023, adults with NHL experienced higher health care expenditures and substantial impairments in physical/mental quality of life compared to adults with other cancers. Although some patient-reported outcomes improved over time, substantial physical limitations and increasing out-of-pocket costs persisted. Despite representing a minority of the cancer population, NHL patients exhibited high symptom burden, functional limitations, and intensive therapy reliance. These findings highlight economic/humanistic burdens of NHL and the importance of integrating patient-reported outcomes into oncology decision making.
METHODS: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional analysis of 2021-2023 MEPS Full-Year Consolidated, Medical Conditions, and Event Files. Adults ≥18 years with self-reported cancer were identified. NHL was defined using MEPS condition variable CALYMPH. Comparator patients included adults with other cancers. Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures were defined as self/family payments. HRQoL was assessed using VR-12 items.
RESULTS: From 2021 to 2023, the estimated population of adults with NHL increased from approximately 784,000 to over 1.04 million. Total annual health care expenditures for NHL patients were higher than other cancer patients, peaking at over $31,400 in 2023. Mean OOP expenditures among NHL patients increased over time, reaching $1,803.13 in 2023. The percentage of NHL patients rating general health as fair/poor decreased from 40.5% (2021) to 17.2% (2023). Patients who accomplished less due to physical health declined from 36.5% to 20.3%. Prevalence of physical limitations remained high, indicating continued symptom and functional burden despite broader health perception improvements.
CONCLUSIONS: Using MEPS data from 2021-2023, adults with NHL experienced higher health care expenditures and substantial impairments in physical/mental quality of life compared to adults with other cancers. Although some patient-reported outcomes improved over time, substantial physical limitations and increasing out-of-pocket costs persisted. Despite representing a minority of the cancer population, NHL patients exhibited high symptom burden, functional limitations, and intensive therapy reliance. These findings highlight economic/humanistic burdens of NHL and the importance of integrating patient-reported outcomes into oncology decision making.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE38
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Oncology