Daniel Lindsay1, Nicole Bates2, Abbey Diaz3, Kerrianne Watt2, Emily Callander4. 1. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. d.lindsay@uq.edu.au. 2. College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. 3. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. 4. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: With increasing rates of cancer survival due to advances in screening and treatment options, the costs of breast cancer diagnoses are attracting interest. However, limited research has explored the costs to the Australian healthcare system associated with breast cancer. We aimed to describe the cost to hospital funders for hospital episodes and emergency department (ED) presentations for Queensland women with breast cancer, and whether costs varied by demographic characteristics. METHODS: We used a linked administrative dataset, CancerCostMod, limited to all breast cancer diagnoses aged 18 years or over in Queensland between July 2011 and June 2015 (n = 13,285). Each record was linked to Queensland Health Admitted Patient Data Collection and Emergency Department Information Systems records between July 2011 and June 2018. The cost of hospital episodes and ED presentations were determined, with mean costs per patient modelled using generalised linear models with a gamma distribution and log link function. RESULTS: The total cost to the Queensland healthcare system from hospital episodes for female breast cancer was AUD$309 million and AUD$12.6 million for ED presentations during the first 3 years following diagnosis. High levels of costs and service use were identified in the first 6 months following diagnosis. Some significant differences in cost of hospital and ED episodes were identified based on demographic characteristics, with Indigenous women and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds having higher costs. CONCLUSION: Hospitalisation costs for breast cancer in Queensland exert a high burden on the healthcare system. Costs are higher for women during the first 6 months from diagnosis and for Indigenous women, as well as those with underlying comorbidities and lower socioeconomic position.
PURPOSE: With increasing rates of cancer survival due to advances in screening and treatment options, the costs of breast cancer diagnoses are attracting interest. However, limited research has explored the costs to the Australian healthcare system associated with breast cancer. We aimed to describe the cost to hospital funders for hospital episodes and emergency department (ED) presentations for Queensland women with breast cancer, and whether costs varied by demographic characteristics. METHODS: We used a linked administrative dataset, CancerCostMod, limited to all breast cancer diagnoses aged 18 years or over in Queensland between July 2011 and June 2015 (n = 13,285). Each record was linked to Queensland Health Admitted Patient Data Collection and Emergency Department Information Systems records between July 2011 and June 2018. The cost of hospital episodes and ED presentations were determined, with mean costs per patient modelled using generalised linear models with a gamma distribution and log link function. RESULTS: The total cost to the Queensland healthcare system from hospital episodes for female breast cancer was AUD$309 million and AUD$12.6 million for ED presentations during the first 3 years following diagnosis. High levels of costs and service use were identified in the first 6 months following diagnosis. Some significant differences in cost of hospital and ED episodes were identified based on demographic characteristics, with Indigenous women and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds having higher costs. CONCLUSION: Hospitalisation costs for breast cancer in Queensland exert a high burden on the healthcare system. Costs are higher for women during the first 6 months from diagnosis and for Indigenous women, as well as those with underlying comorbidities and lower socioeconomic position.
Authors: Robyn L Ward; Maarit A Laaksonen; Kees van Gool; Sallie-Anne Pearson; Ben Daniels; Patricia Bastick; Richard Norman; Changhao Hou; Philip Haywood; Marion Haas Journal: Asia Pac J Clin Oncol Date: 2015-04-13 Impact factor: 2.601
Authors: Hanna E Tervonen; Sanchia Aranda; David Roder; Hui You; Richard Walton; Stephen Morrell; Deborah Baker; David C Currow Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-09-14 Impact factor: 3.295