Comparative study of the safety profile and overall health cost of the rituximab-chop therapy versus bendamustine-rituximab in patients with non-hodgkin lymphoma

Objective: Study of the safety profile and the overall health care impact of the rituximab-bendamustine therapy (R-B) versus rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP) in our health care setting. Method: A six months retrospective follow-up was carried out on patients treated with each of the schedules. To assess the safety profile ? we determined data of hematologic and non-hematologic adverse reactions? and estimated the overall health care cost of each schedule during the six months of follow-up. Results: The R-B group underwent a lower number of hematologic adverse reactions? mainly leukopenia RCHOPR = 0.6?2,? RRB = 0.17?, (p = 0.0?41) and neutropenia RCHOPR = 0.6?2,? RRB = 0.33,? (p = 0.18?) resulting in lower number of visits to the emergency service 1.5 visits vs. 1.9? visits in the R-CHOP group? lower number of hospital stay 2.17 days in the R-B group vs. 6?.9? days in the R-CHOP group? and thus lower sum of costs derived from the therapy. However the overall health care cost was slightly higher than with R-CHOP (R-B: €15,9??63?.5 vs. €14,699????? R-CHOP). Conclusions: The R-B schedule is a good option for the treatment of NHL since it has confirmed similar efficacy and lower rate of adverse effects than R-CHOP? likewise? it has been established that the overall health care cost is similar in both schedules? which is a good alternative to R-CHOP for the treatment of the NHL.