Cost Burden Of Cancer Research Articles

Psychosocial Support and Cost Burden of Cancer Among Patients Attending Tertiary Oncology Clinics in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Cancer management brings about changes in patients' paths of life, in their daily activities, work, relationships, and family roles, and it is associated with a high level of patient psychological stress and financial toxicity. The objective of this study was to assess the psychosocial support and financial burden of cancer patients and determine socioeconomic factors that impact them. Methodology and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 240 cancer patients in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Nigeria. The respondents were recruited consecutively and data was collected using structured, adapted, interviewer administered questionnaires. The data was analyzed using epi info software version 7.1 with chi-square used to test for associations and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. Overall, 74.6% of respondents had perceived psychosocial support scores higher than 50 out of 100. The family was the most common source of support across the emotional, financial and tangible support dimension's (91.7%, 83.8% and 85.4%) while healthcare professionals (60%) were the commonest for informational support. Overall, 69.6% had COST scores less than 50% indicating worse financial toxicity. Statistical associations were found between cost burden and cancer type (p=0.01), age (p<0.0001) and financial support (p<0.0001). Older patients, those who had financial support, and those with gynecological cancers had a decreased financial burden For psychosocial support associations were seen with employment status (p=0.02), and treatment (p<0.0001). Higher psychosocial support for patients who were employed and had begun treatment. The majority of respondents experienced high levels of financial toxicity but adequate psychosocial support. More research is needed, as well as the inclusion of support groups into clinics and the availability of loans to help with the initial costs.

PMU149 DIRECT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TREATMENT OF CANCER PATIENTS: DID THEY INCREASE IN RECENT YEARS?

The cost burden of cancer on health systems is high and on the rise. This work aimed to document trends in cancer related hospitalization and medication costs between 2010 and 2017. Using data from a German statutory health insurance (AOK PLUS), we computed all-cause hospitalization and medication costs per patient in 2010 and 2017, both for the overall insured population and for patients with at least one inpatient or two outpatient diagnoses of any type of cancer. Of 2,133,510 patients observed in 2010, 143,018 (6.7%) had a cancer diagnosis in 2010, while in 2017, 181,660 (7.3%) cancer patients were observed out of 2,504,491 patients. Hospitalization costs per patient increased by 45.4% (p<0.001) from 2010 (967.03€) to 2017 (1,406.13€), while medication costs per patient increased by 10.4% (p<0.001) from 741.35€ to 818.47€. Among patients with a cancer diagnosis, hospitalization costs per patient increased by 37.6% (p<0.001) from 2010 (3,410.95€) to 2017 (4,694.71€), while medication costs increased by 22.2% (p<0.001) going from 2,494.34€ to 3,047.75€. While in 2010 cancer patients accounted for 23.2% of total hospitalization and medication costs, in 2017 they accounted for 25.2% of total costs. In addition, the per-patient cost ratio between cancer and non-cancer patients was 4.20 in 2010 (95% CI: 4.15, 4.24) and 4.32 in 2017 (95% CI: 4.27, 4.36). This study shows that hospitalization and medication costs have significantly increased between 2010 and 2017, and costs associated with the treatment of cancer patients accounts for about one quarter of overall costs.