Regional variation in the costs of treating curative gastric cancer.

Abstract

165 Background: Gastric cancer is a highly morbid and fatal disease. While the clinical challenge with gastric cancer is widely described, little is known about the economic burden of the disease. Many guidelines outline the curative treatment for gastric cancer and in a universal healthcare system, equal access and uniform healthcare delivery is predicted. Yet, regional variation in practice exists and may result in increased healthcare costs. We therefore aimed to investigate of the costs of treating curative gastric cancer, explore regional variation in costs, and to identify the factors which drive these costs. Methods: We conducted a patient-level cost analysis of curative-intent stage I-III gastric cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2008 from the perspective of a universal healthcare system, using a 26-month time horizon. Clinical and stage data were abstracted from a provincial chart review. Costs associated with physician billings, same day surgery, hospitalization, drug benefits, emergency department visits, continuing care, and long-term care were derived using administrative healthcare databases and compared among healthcare regions. Costs were inflated to 2017 United States dollars (USD). We used a linear regression model to identify factors predictive of these treatment costs. Results: A total of 722 patients with Stage I-III gastric cancer were identified. Mean costs per region ranged from $55,650 to $92,852 (USD) across 14 health regions. The lowest contributing cost sector was long-term care and the highest contributing proportion of costs was from hospital admissions. A laparoscopic surgical approach was predictive of lower costs while age over 70 years and death at one year from diagnosis was predictive of higher costs. Conclusions: Regional variation exists in the treatment costs for patients with curative gastric cancer despite guidelines directing appropriate care and healthcare delivery in a universal healthcare system. Governmental intervention to ensure quality care delivery is necessary for improved and sustainable curative gastric cancer care across regions.