Abstract:Objective To explore the association between hemocyte stimulating factors (HSFs) and diagnosis related group (DRG) overspending in cancer patients, providing a basis for drug control.Methods Patients entering the RE1A disease group from January to December 2022 in a tertiary medical institution in Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, were used as the study data. The patients were divided into DRG overspending group and DRG not overspending group. Patients in the two groups were matched 1∶1 using propensity score matching (PSM), and the difference in the use of HSFs between the two groups was compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) and segmented multivariable Logistic regression models were employed for examining the dose-effect relationship and threshold effect between HSFs and DRG overrun. Sensitivity analyses were performed using the multivariable Logistic regression model with pre-matching data.Results A total of 1 729 patients were included in the study and 431 patients (24.93%) presented with DRG overspending. After matching, there were 348 cases in each of the two groups, which were balanced at baseline between the two groups, and the SMD values for each baseline variable were less than 0.1. The Wilcoxon rank sum test showed a statistical difference in the amount of HSFs between the two groups (P<0.001). RCS model indicated a nonlinear relationship between HSFs and DRG overrun. When the expense of HSFs was ≥1 261.80 yuan, HSFs were positively associated with the risk of DRG overrun (OR=1.001, 95% CI: 1.001~1.002, P=0.001). When the expense of HSFs was <1 261.80 yuan, no correlation existed between HSFs and the risk of DRG overrun (P=0.389). The results of the multivariable logistic regression model showed that the amount of HSFs was associated with DRG overspending (OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.10~1.22, P<0.001).Conclusion A nonlinear relationship exists between HSFs and DRG overrun in tumor patients. When the expense of HSFs was ≥1 261.80 yuan, HSFs are positively associated with DRG overrun. Therefore, clinics should strengthen the rational use of HSFs to reduce drug costs, thus reducing the risk of DRG overspending.