In breast cancer, febrile neutropenia-related admissions account for significant mortality

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study published in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer, researchers from the Reading Health System Department of Internal Medicine in West Reading, Pennsylvania, have found that febrile neutropenia-related hospitalizations still account for significant health care resource use, morbidity, and mortality among patients with breast cancer.

For the retrospective study, researchers sought to investigate the mean length of stay, incidence of morbidity and mortality, and health care costs associated with febrile neutropenia-related admissions of patients with breast cancer.

Researchers identified patients with breast cancer who were hospitalized for febrile neutropenia between 2009 and 2011 from the Nationwide Impact Sample database. Results showed that the mean length of stay was 5.7 days (95% CI: 5.5 - 5.9) and the mean cost of hospitalization was $37,087 (95% CI: 34,009 - 40,165).

They found that the average inhospital mortality rate during that period was 2.6% (n = 685), and age 65 years and older was associated with a higher risk of mortality (4.4% vs 1.7%; OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 2.3 - 3.1; P < 0.01). The findings suggest that febrile neutropenia accounts for significant mortality, and more effort needs to be made to reduce the cost of health care without decreasing the quality of care.