Cancer-related neutropenia hospitalizations appear to be extremely high, according to a study involving more than 105,000 individuals.

Investigators looked at characteristics of hospitalizations for cancer-related neutropenia—including length and cost of stay—in adults (n=91,560) and children (n=16,859). Among the results:

• Total costs were $2.3 billion for adults and $439 million for children.
• Cancer-related neutropenia hospitalizations represented more than 5% of all cancer-related hospitalizations, and more than 8% of all cancer-related hospitalization costs.
• Average length of stay for adults was nearly 10 days, and average cost was close to $25,000/stay.
• Children spent an average of 9 days in the hospital, at a mean cost of $26,000/stay.

The authors noted the importance of limiting neutropenia-related complications in cancer patients in order to lower hospitalizations and costs.