Clinical and Economic Burden of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection/Disease Among Hospitalized Adult Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (Allo‐HSCT) Recipients in China

ABSTRACT Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a prevalent complication among allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo‐HSCT) recipients, posing significantly impact on clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. This study aims to assess the clinical and economic burden of CMV infection in hospitalized adult allo‐HSCT recipients in China. A retrospective analysis was conducted using electronic medical records from two tertiary hospitals in China. A total of 1977 patients who underwent allo‐HSCT while hospitalized between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2021 were included in the study and followed up for 180 days. Data on CMV clinical characteristics, hospitalization duration, complications, and healthcare costs were collected and analyzed. CMV infection/disease was observed in 542 patients during the hospitalization of the allo‐HSCT procedure, leading to longer hospital stays (69. 36 SD 23. 15 vs 37. 77 SD 13. 22 days, p < 0. 001) and increased medical expenses (US60, 152. 98 SD 30, 190. 82 vs 34, 430. 88 17, 723. 65, p < 0. 001). Patients with CMV infection/disease had higher rates of complications, such as graft‐versus‐host disease (52. 21% vs 19. 65%, p < 0. 001), and required more extensive use of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor, red blood cell and platelet transfusion, antifungals drugs, and antibacterials drugs. CMV infection/disease imposes significant clinical and economic burdens on hospitalized allo‐HSCT recipients in China. Effective monitoring and prevention strategies are essential to mitigate these impacts, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.