OBJECTIVES : To analyze the medical direct cost within first 6 months of acute leukemia patients (AL).

METHODS : A retrospective observational cost study of AL patients who were diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients (AML) or acute lymphocytic leukemia patients (ALL) at 2 leading specialized hospitals in Vietnam. The medical direct costs were recorded from medical records. The cost analysis distinguished between induction and consolidation treatment as well as kind of AL.

RESULTS : A total of 173 AL patients were enrolled with a total of 123 AML patients and 50 ALL patients. AL patients had the rate of female:male of 1.01:1 and an average age of 40.9 (SD=13.0) with the higher average age of AML compared with ALL. The average hospitalized days of induction treatment and each consolidation course were 34.9 (SD=7.95) days and 20.2 (SD=6.98) days, respectively. The average total cost for first 6 months of AL treatment was $US10,718, of which the average cost of induction treatment was $US4,124 and the average total costs consolidation treatment $US6,594 which equivalent to $US1,887 per consolidation course. Drug costs accounted for the highest proportion of total treatment cost (35%), followed by laboratory costs (25%). The average cost of induction treatment of AML patients was 1.47 times higher while the average total cost of consolidation treatment was 1.05 times lower than that of ALL patients. In general, the average total cost of AML in first 6 months was 1.11 times higher than that of ALL.

CONCLUSIONS : The average total cost within first 6 months of AL patients was $US10,718 where the drug costs contributed the highest percentage. Treating AML patients is more expensive than ALL patients.