Economic Burden of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia in Australia
4 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Health, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health Transformation Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia
- 2Faculty of Health, School of Psychology Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia
- 3Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia
- 4Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
Abstract
Background: The treatment landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has transformed over the past decade. This study aimed to estimate the healthcare costs and health burden associated with CLL in Australia.
Methods: A Markov model was developed to simulate the lifetime healthcare costs and health outcomes associated with CLL in Australia under the CIT‐only era and the current era incorporating targeted therapies. The model considered treatment initiation, switching, and long‐term survival. Clinical inputs were derived from Australian Cancer Database data (2009–2020) for the CIT era, while cost and utility parameters were obtained from government sources and published literature. The model ran over a 15‐year horizon, reflecting the average age of CLL onset in Australia (68 years). Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.
Results: Total healthcare costs were substantially higher in the targeted therapy era ($751 727 per patient) compared to the CIT era ($33 505 per patient). Drug costs, particularly continuous BTKis therapy, were the main driver ($739 960 vs. $15 359). CLL patients were estimated to accumulate 3.62 and 7.83 QALYs in the CIT and targeted therapy eras, respectively, compared to 10.56 QALYs for the general population aged 68—indicating QALY losses of 6.94 and 2.73, respectively. Life expectancy shortfalls were 6.69 and 3.21 years, respectively. Targeted therapy led to incremental gains of 4.22 QALYs and 3.47 life years. Sensitivity analysis identified that discount rate, age at onset, treatment costs, and time horizon significantly influenced incremental costs, while treatment effectiveness and quality of life in the progression‐free state were key drivers of QALY gains.
Conclusions: CLL imposes a significant economic burden and QALY loss. While targeted therapies offer meaningful health gains, their high cost highlights the need for strategic planning to ensure sustainable resource allocation. Policymakers should balance clinical benefit with financial impact to optimise value in cancer care.
Related
- Richter Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: Biology, Diagnosis, and an Evolving Therapeutic Landscape
- Aplastic Anaemia in a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Patient Treated With Acalabrutinib, a Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor—Case Report
- Persistent SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA Positivity in a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Patient for 127 Days After Disease Onset: A Case Report
- USP7 inhibits FOXO1 activity in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells enhancing cell survival.
- Lenalidomide maintenance after initial immunochemotherapy in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia—Final analysis of the international phase III CLL6 RESIDUUM study of the ALLG and FILO groups
BibTeX
@article{gao2026economic,
title = {{Economic Burden of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia in Australia}},
author = {Lan Gao and Dieu Nguyen and Victoria White and Patricia M. Livingston and Chan Y. Cheah},
journal = {European Journal of Haematology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1111/ejh.70286},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ejh.70286},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Economic Burden of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia in Australia
AU - Lan Gao
AU - Dieu Nguyen
AU - Victoria White
AU - Patricia M. Livingston
AU - Chan Y. Cheah
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/12
JO - European Journal of Haematology
DO - 10.1111/ejh.70286
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/ejh.70286
AB - Background: The treatment landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has transformed over the past decade. This study aimed to estimate the healthcare costs and health burden associated with CLL in Australia. Methods: A Markov model was developed to simulate the lifetime healthcare costs and health outcomes associated with CLL in Australia under the CIT‐only era and the current era incorporating targeted therapies. The model considered treatment initiation, switching, and long‐term survival. Clinical inputs were derived from Australian Cancer Database data (2009–2020) for the CIT era, while cost and utility parameters were obtained from government sources and published literature. The model ran over a 15‐year horizon, reflecting the average age of CLL onset in Australia (68 years). Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Total healthcare costs were substantially higher in the targeted therapy era ($751 727 per patient) compared to the CIT era ($33 505 per patient). Drug costs, particularly continuous BTKis therapy, were the main driver ($739 960 vs. $15 359). CLL patients were estimated to accumulate 3.62 and 7.83 QALYs in the CIT and targeted therapy eras, respectively, compared to 10.56 QALYs for the general population aged 68—indicating QALY losses of 6.94 and 2.73, respectively. Life expectancy shortfalls were 6.69 and 3.21 years, respectively. Targeted therapy led to incremental gains of 4.22 QALYs and 3.47 life years. Sensitivity analysis identified that discount rate, age at onset, treatment costs, and time horizon significantly influenced incremental costs, while treatment effectiveness and quality of life in the progression‐free state were key drivers of QALY gains. Conclusions: CLL imposes a significant economic burden and QALY loss. While targeted therapies offer meaningful health gains, their high cost highlights the need for strategic planning to ensure sustainable resource allocation. Policymakers should balance clinical benefit with financial impact to optimise value in cancer care.
SN - 0902-4441
SN - 1600-0609
ER -