OBJECTIVES: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) consists of a series of different subtypes with ALCL and PTCL-NOS, being the main subtypes. It is unclear what the economic impact is on patients, caregivers and the healthcare system. A systematic review was conducted to understand the global economic burden of PTCL in frontline care.

METHODS: EMBASE, MEDLINE, EconLit, NHSEED and grey literature sources were searched for primary publications of frontline PTCL populations reporting on healthcare resource use (HCRU), costs, and economic evaluations. Studies had to be published in English; and were not limited by geography or publication year.

RESULTS: 637 unique citations were reviewed using the protocol pre-specified criteria. Thirteen full-texts were reviewed for further relevance and four studies met the inclusion criteria. All were retrospective observational studies assessing HCRU and/or costs in the US (n=2), France (n=1) or Spain (n=1). Hospitalization rates in France were highest in patients with PTCL-NOS (41%), followed by 15% in ALCL, and lowest in AITL (7%). The mean duration of in-patient hospitalization in Spain was 14.9 days [standard deviation; SD: 3.0] in patients with nodal PTCL and 6.4 days [SD: 8.5] in PTCL overall in the US. The mean monthly cost-per-patient in the US ranged between US$6,327.80 and US$9,356.00, while transplant costs were found to be US$126,093.60. No studies reported indirect costs and no economic evaluations were identified. Treatments received by patients were heterogenous.

CONCLUSIONS: The evidence on the economic burden associated with frontline care in PTCL is scanty, reflecting the rarity of the condition. Available evidence indicates that the impact of treatment for this condition could be substantial, particularly direct costs, for patients who fail frontline treatment and end up receiving transplants. Future studies should consider exploring the cost-effectiveness of, as well as the indirect costs associated with, frontline treatment of PTCL.