Alexandra S Vitko, Pam Martin, Sheng Zhang, Adam Johnston, Robert Ohsfeldt, Shen Zheng, Astra M Liepa
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: To assess the costs of treated recurrence and survival in elderly patients with early breast cancer (EBC) at high risk of recurrence using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry-Medicare linked claims data.
Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged ≥65 years with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-), node-positive EBC at high risk of recurrence. Treated recurrences were defined based on treatment events/procedure codes from claims. Primary outcomes were monthly total extra costs and cumulative extra costs of treated recurrence relative to patients with non/untreated recurrence. Costs were calculated using a Kaplan-Meier sampling average estimator method and inflated to 2021 US$. Secondary outcomes included analysis by recurrence type and overall survival (OS) after recurrence. Subgroup analysis evaluated costs in patients with Medicare Part D coverage.
Results: Among 3,081 eligible patients [mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 74.5 (7.1) years], the majority were females (97.4%) and white (87.8%). Treated recurrence was observed in 964 patients (31.3%). The monthly extra cost of treated recurrence was highest at the beginning of the first treated recurrence episode, with 6-year cumulative cost of $117,926. Six-year cumulative extra costs were higher for patients with distant recurrences ($168,656) than for patients with locoregional recurrences ($96,465). Median OS was 4.34 years for all treated recurrences, 1.92 years for distant recurrence, and 6.78 years for locoregional recurrence. Similar cumulative extra cost trends were observed in the subgroup with Part D coverage as in the overall population.
Limitations: This study utilizes claims data to identify treated recurrence. Due to age constraints of the dataset, results may not extrapolate to a younger population where EBC is commonly diagnosed.
Conclusion: EBC recurrence in this elderly population has substantial costs, particularly in patients with distant recurrences. Therapies that delay or prevent recurrence may reduce long-term costs significantly.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Medical Economics'' mission is to provide ethical, unbiased and rapid publication of quality content that is validated by rigorous peer review. The aim of Journal of Medical Economics is to serve the information needs of the pharmacoeconomics and healthcare research community, to help translate research advances into patient care and be a leader in transparency/disclosure by facilitating a collaborative and honest approach to publication.
Journal of Medical Economics publishes high-quality economic assessments of novel therapeutic and device interventions for an international audience