Tessa De Vrieze1,2, Nick Gebruers3,4, Ines Nevelsteen5, Wiebren A A Tjalma4,6, Sarah Thomis7, An De Groef8,3, Lore Dams8,3, Vincent Haenen8,3, Nele Devoogdt8,7. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, O&N IV Herestraat 49, box 1510, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. tessa.devrieze@kuleuven.be. 2. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, MOVANT, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium. tessa.devrieze@kuleuven.be. 3. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, MOVANT, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium. 4. Multidisciplinary Oedema Clinic, University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. 5. Multidisciplinary Breast Centre, UZ Leuven - University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 6. Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. 7. Center for lymphedema, UZ Leuven - University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 8. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, O&N IV Herestraat 49, box 1510, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE:Decongestive lymphatic treatment (DLT) is still the gold standard for treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). With up to 17% of the patients treated for breast cancer developing BCRL, this morbidity imposes a tremendous financial burden for patients and society. Knowledge about this economic burden related to BCRL and its conservative treatment in a European setting is lacking. The aim of this prospective, longitudinal cohort study was to estimate the direct healthcare costs related to BCRL and its treatment in a European setting. METHODS:Patients with BCRL were treated with DLT consisting of an intensive treatment phase of 3 weeks, followed by a maintenance treatment phase of 6 months. Additionally, the follow-up period comprised 6 months. During these 3 weeks and 12 months, all direct costs associated with the treatment of BCRL and its sequelae were documented through billing prices and a self-developed questionnaire which was administered after the intensive treatment phase, and subsequently 3-monthly during the entire period. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were enrolled in this study. Of these, 17% (n = 32) showed lymphedema stage I, 56% (n = 109) had lymphedema stage IIa, and 27% (n = 53) had lymphedema stage IIb. Total direct healthcare costs per patient were €2248.93 on average during the entire period of 3 weeks of intensive treatments and 12 months of maintenance decongestive therapy. Within these mean direct costs, €1803.35 (80%) was accounted for statutory health insurances, and €445.58 (20%) was out-of-pocket expenses for patients. CONCLUSION: This study is one of the first standardized high-quality health economic analyses of BRCL treatment in Europe. The present study indicates that the price tag of BCRL treatment in Belgium is high not only for the health insurance but also for the patients Clinical trial registration number The study makes part of a double-blind, multi-center, randomized controlled trial (EFforT-BCRL trial), which is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02609724). CME reference S58689, EudraCT Number 2015-004822-33.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: Decongestive lymphatic treatment (DLT) is still the gold standard for treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). With up to 17% of the patients treated for breast cancer developing BCRL, this morbidity imposes a tremendous financial burden for patients and society. Knowledge about this economic burden related to BCRL and its conservative treatment in a European setting is lacking. The aim of this prospective, longitudinal cohort study was to estimate the direct healthcare costs related to BCRL and its treatment in a European setting. METHODS:Patients with BCRL were treated with DLT consisting of an intensive treatment phase of 3 weeks, followed by a maintenance treatment phase of 6 months. Additionally, the follow-up period comprised 6 months. During these 3 weeks and 12 months, all direct costs associated with the treatment of BCRL and its sequelae were documented through billing prices and a self-developed questionnaire which was administered after the intensive treatment phase, and subsequently 3-monthly during the entire period. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were enrolled in this study. Of these, 17% (n = 32) showed lymphedema stage I, 56% (n = 109) had lymphedema stage IIa, and 27% (n = 53) had lymphedema stage IIb. Total direct healthcare costs per patient were €2248.93 on average during the entire period of 3 weeks of intensive treatments and 12 months of maintenance decongestive therapy. Within these mean direct costs, €1803.35 (80%) was accounted for statutory health insurances, and €445.58 (20%) was out-of-pocket expenses for patients. CONCLUSION: This study is one of the first standardized high-quality health economic analyses of BRCL treatment in Europe. The present study indicates that the price tag of BCRL treatment in Belgium is high not only for the health insurance but also for the patients Clinical trial registration number The study makes part of a double-blind, multi-center, randomized controlled trial (EFforT-BCRL trial), which is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02609724). CME reference S58689, EudraCT Number 2015-004822-33.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast neoplasms; Economic evaluation; Health care costs; Lymphedema; Rehabilitation
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