Cost analysis of post-nephrectomy follow-up schedules from three North American clinical practice guidelines for localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Abstract

657 Background: Several guidelines have been developed for follow up of patients after nephrectomy for RCC. The direct financial cost of following recommendations in three North American guidelines were estimated in this analysis. Methods: Recommendations from the American Urological Association (AUA), Canadian Urological Association (CUA), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for post-radical nephrectomy care were compiled. Data regarding costs of testing and physician visits were obtained from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan Schedule of Benefits. Both the cost per patient completing five years of surveillance (scenario A), and the estimated cost adjusted for attrition from predicted recurrences (scenario B) were calculated. A sensitivity analysis was performed and will be presented. Results: For five years of follow up of a single patient in both scenarios, the costs are summarized in the table. For scenario A, follow up costs ranged from $515-1112 for T1N0, $1639-2746 for T2N0, $1856-2746 for T3/4 and $1918-2746 TxN+. For scenario B, costs were $497-1051 for T1N0, $1259-2198 for T2N0, $1008-1595 for T3/4N0 and $1043-1595 for TxN+. Conclusions: The AUA, CUA, and NCCN guidelines showed considerable differences in their associated costs, particularly when expected recurrences were accounted for. The NCCN recommendations are predicted to be the costliest to implement, irrespective of stage.[Table: see text]