PCN75 Direct Medical Cost of Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among females in Saudi Arabia. As a result, the Saudi healthcare system is expected to face a heavy economic burden to provide sufficient healthcare services to breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to estimate the direct medical cost associated with breast cancer in Saudi Arabia form a healthcare perspective. This was a retrospective prevalence-based multicenter cost of illness study conducted at KSUMC and KFMC. Breast cancer patients medical recorded were examined for the year 2018. A micro-costing approach was conducted to estimate the direct cost that included (medications, lab and diagnostics, hospitalization, procedures, visits, emergency). Prices and costing data were collected from NUPCO, MOH and institutional business centers costing data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. A total of 300 breast cancer patients were included in the study. The total estimated direct cost was SAR 54,854,100. The average direct medical cost per patient was estimated as SAR 182,847 ± SAR 13,065. The cost significantly varied between breast cancer stages I-IV (SAR 53,432, SAR 74,102 ,SAR 109,280 ,SAR 305,585) respectively (p<0.001). In addition, the average cost significantly varied between pre and postmenopausal status (SAR 154,817, SAR 107,610) respectively (p<0.001). The cost of medications was major driver of the total direct cost (85%) followed by hospitalization and diagnostic tests costs (6%, 4%) respectively. The majority of drug cost were related to regimens include the combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab with an average direct cost of SAR 117,137 ± 33,506 per cycle. The direct medical cost of breast cancer are extremely high in Saudi Arabia and mainly driven by the cost of medication. Decision makers may focus on better cost effective approaches including screening programs and the use of biosimilars to help controlling the cost of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia.