Initial attributable cost and economic burden of clinically-relevant differentiated thyroid cancer: A health care service provider perspective

• Published in: European journal of surgical oncology 2015-06, Vol.41 (6), p.758-765
• Main Authors: Lang, B.H.-H, Wong, C. KH, TY Chan, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cancer incidence; Cost effectiveness; Direct Service Costs; Economic burden; Female; Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data; Health Services - economics; Health Services - utilization; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Registries; Sex Factors; Surgery; Thyroid cancer; Thyroid Neoplasms - economics; Thyroid Neoplasms - epidemiology; Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology; Thyroid Neoplasms - therapy; Thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy - economics
• ISSN: 0748-7983; 1532-2157
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2015.01.019

Abstract Background Rapid rise in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) may impose a heavy economic burden on future healthcare. We aimed to calculate the average first-year monetary cost/patient for DTC and estimate the projected cost burden on our local healthcare system. Methods Medical records of 270 clinically-relevant DTC patients were reviewed to calculate the amount of services utilized during the first-year. Only direct costs were included with estimates derived from government gazette. Cancer incidences were derived from the territory-wide cancer registry. Total annual cost equaled to the incidence multiplied by the cost/patient. Results The average first-year cost of DTC was USD11,560/patient. Initial surgery accounted for 66.9% of total cost. Male and female annual percentage increases for DTC were 4.86% and 4.28%, respectively. Female DTC is projected to surpass rectal cancer in 2019 (20.4/100,000 vs. 20.0/100,000) and colon cancer (47.2/100,000 vs. 46.8/100,000) in 2039. However, the projected incidence of DTC in 2026 would still be about one fourth that of CRC (19.5/100,000 vs. 83.2/100,000). Conclusions The average first-year monetary cost of DTC care was relatively low. Initial surgery accounted for most of the cost. Despite a rapid incidence rise, the projected first-year cost for DTC is unlikely to impose substantial economic burden on our local future healthcare system.