Assessing the economic burden of Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM), Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL), and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Introduction: In Italy, Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL), including Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (WM), Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL), and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), are among the most common hematologic cancers. These conditions mainly affect the elderly, who often have multiple comorbidities, complicating management and imposing significant burdens on patient quality of life and healthcare systems. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of selected B-cell lymphomas in Italy, providing insights for decision-makers to improve patient management and resource allocation. Method: Data from the Italian Hospital Discharges Records (SDO) and the National Institute for Social Security were analyzed to estimate direct healthcare costs and social security costs from 2016 to 2019. Results: A total of 93,712 hospital discharges were recorded, with MZL being the most common diagnosis, followed by CLL and WM. Most patients were male, and the 70–79 age group was most prevalent. MZL had the highest costs, followed by CLL and WM. Adverse events notably increased total expenditures, with variations across different pathologies. Direct healthcare costs totaled 533.6 million euros, while social security costs amounted to 240.9 million euros. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant economic burden of selected B-cell lymphomas in Italy. Effective management strategies are crucial for reducing costs and optimizing resource allocation in the healthcare system.