Cost effectiveness of treating endemic Burkitt lymphoma in Uganda.

Abstract

e18339 Background: Despite high cure rates achieved in high-income countries, outcomes for children with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain suboptimal. Perceptions of high cost and resource intensity remain political barriers to the prioritization of BL and other childhood cancer treatment programs in many LMIC health systems. Little to no knowledge exists of the actual cost and cost-effectiveness of treating paediatric cancers in LMICs. To improve outcomes for children with BL, the Uganda Cancer Institute implemented a comprehensive BL treatment program in 2012. Drawing on centralized patient-level data, we undertook an economic evaluation of the program to ascertain the cost-effectiveness of BL therapy in a specific LIC setting. Methods: We compared the treatment of BL (local standard) to usual care (no care), in a cohort of 215 patients treated between 2012 and 2015. Costs included direct, indirect healthcare, and indirect patient costs. Our primary measure of effectivenesswas overall survival (OS). Patient outcomes were determined through electronic chart abstraction. The cost per DALY averted was calculated using WHO-CHOICE methodology and compared to standard definitions of cost-effectiveness. Results: The 2-year OS with treatment was 53% (95% CI, 43% to 62%). Nine percent of patients abandoned therapy. The cost per DALY averted in the treatment group was US$78. Cumulative estimate of national DALYs averted through treatment was 11,046 years, and the total national cost of treatment was US$755,216. The ratio of cost per DALY averted to per capita gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.12, reflecting a very cost-effective intervention. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that treating BL with locally tailored protocols is very cost-effective relative to per capita GDP in Uganda. Studies of this kind will furnish crucial evidence to assist policymakers prioritize the allocation of LMIC health system resources among NCDs, including childhood cancer.