P084 | VALUE-BASED HEALTHCARE IN ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA: ANALYSIS OF COSTS AND CARE MODELS IN ITALY

Background: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterised by a significant increase in myeloid blasts that disrupts normal blood cell production, affects approximately 2,100 individuals annually in Italy. The average age at initial diagnosis is around 69 years; consequently, patients with AML often experience poor clinical prognoses and outcomes. There are few studies addressing the economic impact of AML care management, and even fewer assessing it from a value-based healthcare perspective. Objective: This value-based healthcare study aimed to identify current best practices and bottlenecks in AML care management in two Italian regions (Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna) and to assess the costs associated with the as-is care pathway. Methods: The study was conducted in parallel at Humanitas Research Hospital in Milan and University Hospital St. Anna in Ferrara, two leading Italian onco-haematology centres. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we reviewed existing diagnostic therapeutic assistance pathways (PDTA) and conducted co-creation workshops with multidisciplinary clinical teams. 18 clinicians involved in AML care participated in 8 workshops (5 at Humanitas and 3 in Ferrara) to co-design as-is care pathways for each Centre, focusing on identifying best practices, bottlenecks, and potential solutions. Subsequently, a detailed cost analysis assessing the economic impact of AML care management was developed, based on the co-designed care pathway for each centre and secondary data from official national and regional records. Results: Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams from both centres facilitated the development of an as-is AML care pathway algorithm that incorporates potential improvements and new service opportunities. The estimated annual per-patient cost for the Italian NHS is €84,947 during the first year of acute treatment, consisting of diagnostic exams (€3,352), seven cycles of standard treatment (€64,253), seven days of day hospital (€12,913), and hospitalisation due to complications (€4,428). Conclusions: The dual-centre approach leverages regional and organisational strengths by identifying best practices to enhance patient care and outcomes in onco-haematology. By refining AML care pathways, it is possible to lessen the economic burden on the NHS, specifically by addressing costs associated with unnecessary hospitalisations, hospital-acquired infections, and other complications (€16,441).