Treatment patterns and costs among US patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not treated with 2L stem cell transplantation

Aim: To assess treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who did not receive stem cell transplantation in second-line. Patients & methods: An administrative MarketScan (R) database study to assess DLBCL claims from 01/01/2009-30/09/2020. Results: Most patients (n = 750) received rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone in first-line (86.8%) and rituximab (39.5%) or bendamustine +/- rituximab +/- other (16.3%) in second-line. Over half were hospitalized (mean duration: 16.5 (standard deviation [SD]: 25.8) days per patient per year [PPPY]). Mean medical/pharmacy costs were US$141,532 PPPY (SD: $189,579), driven by DLBCL-related claims. Conclusion: HCRU and costs for DLBCL-related claims were due to hospitalizations and outpatient visits. Novel therapies to reduce clinical and economic burdens are needed. In a study of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who do not proceed to transplant in second line, high HCRU and costs were mostly due to hospitalizations and outpatient visits.