Tron A Moger1, Gudrun M W Bjørnelv2,3, Eline Aas2,3. 1. Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, PO Box 1089, 0317, Oslo, Norway. tronmo@medisin.uio.no. 2. Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, PO Box 1089, 0317, Oslo, Norway. 3. HEHØ, Health Economic Evaluations in the South-Eastern Regional Health Authority in Norway, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, PO Box 1089, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The shift towards earlier stages of disease advancement at diagnosis when introducing mammography screening is expected to affect the treatment costs of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data on hospital resource use in Norway following a breast cancer diagnosis for the period 1 January, 2008 through 31 December, 2009 for women aged 50-69 years, diagnosed with breast cancer during the period 1 January, 1999 through 31 December, 2009. We estimated treatment costs using a function that included the probability of being at risk for receiving treatment, estimated by means of the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: In total, 16,045 patients were included for the analyses among which 10.5 % died during the study period. The mean 10-year per-person treatment cost was €31,940 (95 % CI €31,030-32,880), and lower for cancers detected within the public screening program (€30,730) than for those detected elsewhere (€36,230). For ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and cancers in stages I thru IV, treatment costs were €15,740, €23,570, €46,550, €55,230 and €60,430, respectively. Interval cancers occurring within the screening program were generally more resource demanding than both cancers detected at screening or elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: Ten-year treatment costs increased by increasing stage at diagnosis. Patients whose cancer was detected within the public screening program had lower treatment costs than those detected elsewhere. Interval cancers had higher costs than others.
BACKGROUND: The shift towards earlier stages of disease advancement at diagnosis when introducing mammography screening is expected to affect the treatment costs of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data on hospital resource use in Norway following a breast cancer diagnosis for the period 1 January, 2008 through 31 December, 2009 for women aged 50-69 years, diagnosed with breast cancer during the period 1 January, 1999 through 31 December, 2009. We estimated treatment costs using a function that included the probability of being at risk for receiving treatment, estimated by means of the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: In total, 16,045 patients were included for the analyses among which 10.5 % died during the study period. The mean 10-year per-person treatment cost was €31,940 (95 % CI €31,030-32,880), and lower for cancers detected within the public screening program (€30,730) than for those detected elsewhere (€36,230). For ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and cancers in stages I thru IV, treatment costs were €15,740, €23,570, €46,550, €55,230 and €60,430, respectively. Interval cancers occurring within the screening program were generally more resource demanding than both cancers detected at screening or elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: Ten-year treatment costs increased by increasing stage at diagnosis. Patients whose cancer was detected within the public screening program had lower treatment costs than those detected elsewhere. Interval cancers had higher costs than others.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Long-term costs; Screening; Treatment costs
Authors: Lea Kauhava; Pirjo Immonen-Räihä; Ilmo Parvinen; Hans Helenius; Anne Kaljonen; Osmo Räsänen; Liisa Pylkkänen; Pekka J Klemi Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2004-06 Impact factor: 3.367