PCN78 Costs of Recurrence in Patients with HER2+ Breast Cancer in Spain

Abstract

Previous studies estimated the cost of recurrences in HER2+ breast cancer (BC) patients in Spain. Considering the advances in the management of the disease, the aim of this study is to update and describe the costs of recurrences in patients with HER2+ BC in Spain. The average cost of a HER2+ BC recurrence was estimated considering direct and indirect costs of local and metastatic relapses (up to 5 lines in the metastatic setting) weighted by the proportion of patients reaching each treatment line according to published literature and validated by an expert panel. Unit costs were obtained from literature and national databases and were updated to €2020. Direct cost estimates included pharmacological treatments and other medical resources (visits, tests, hospitalizations, local treatments [surgery and radiotherapy], adverse events management and treatment of localized metastases) and were validated by an expert panel. Indirect costs were estimated using the human capital approach. In local relapses, direct costs were €36,367 whereas indirect costs were €20,210. In metastatic relapses, direct costs ranged between €124,657 (patients receiving one treatment line) and €243,853 (patients receiving five treatment lines), and indirect costs ranged between €14,510 and €44,525, respectively. The average cost of the recurrence per patient weighting both local and metastatic relapses was €196,078 (86% direct costs, of which 84% were pharmacological treatments and 16% other medical resources). The average cost of the recurrence per patient weighting only metastatic relapses was €204,753 (87% direct costs, of which 85% were pharmacological treatments). HER2+ BC recurrences continue posing a high economic burden on the Spanish National Healthcare System and the society. Tackling the disease at an early stage reducing the risk of recurrences remains a paramount priority in the management of the disease.