OBJECTIVES : The Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia (CLL) is considered as a rare disease however it is the most frequent disease of adult’s leukemia in occidental countries for which there is still a lack of economic evidence. The objective of this study was to estimate the CLL disease burden in the French setting.

METHODS : The EGB (Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires) database, a 1/97^th random sample of the French healthcare insurance database linked with the hospital discharge database (PMSI) was used. Retrospective data between 2014 and 2017 were considered to identify incident cases of CLL. The index admission was the first admission with principal diagnosis for CLL (ICD-10: C911) and patients had to be clear of CLL admission in the previous 5 years. Healthcare costs were analyzed from the national health insurance perspective. The study period included the first-year period following the initial diagnosis, and the second-year period following the initial diagnosis. Additional costs attributable to the disease were estimated by comparing the incident CLL cohort to a matched cohort, on age and gender, with a 1:5 ratio.

RESULTS : The study identified 81 incident cases with a mean age of 71 years (SD:15), 35% were women, 16% had severe comorbidities (Charlson index ≥3) and 8 deaths (10%) were observed during the study period. Monthly additional cost during the first-year period was estimated at €3,060. Main drivers of cost were pharmaceuticals (€1,571) and hospital admissions (€1,300). Monthly additional cost for the second year of follow-up was estimated at €988.

CONCLUSIONS : This study confirms the significant economic burden of CLL disease in France and provide up-to-date economic data that could support decision making.