Costs and trends in pancreatic cancer treatment Journal Article


Authors: O'Neill, C. B.; Atoria, C. L.; O'Reilly, E. M.; LaFemina, J.; Henman, M. C.; Elkin, E. B.
Article Title: Costs and trends in pancreatic cancer treatment
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer poses a substantial morbidity and mortality burden in the United States, and predominantly affects older adults. The objective of this study was to estimate the direct medical costs of pancreatic cancer treatment in a population-based cohort of Medicare beneficiaries, and the contribution of different treatment modalities and health care services to the total cost of care and trends in costs over time. METHODS: In the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, pancreatic cancer patients were identified who were aged 66 years or older and who were diagnosed from 2000 to 2007. Total direct medical costs were estimated from Medicare payments overall and within categories of care. Costs attributable to pancreatic cancer were estimated by subtracting the costs of medical care in a matched cohort of cancer-free beneficiaries. RESULTS: A total of 15,037 patients were identified, of whom 97% were observed from diagnosis until death. Mean total direct medical costs were $65,500. Mean total costs were greater for patients with resectable locoregional disease ($134,700) than for those with unresectable locoregional or distant disease ($65,300 and $49,000, respectively). Hospitalizations and cancer-directed procedures collectively accounted for the largest fraction of health care costs. The total cost of care appeared to increase slightly over the study period (P =.05). The mean costs attributable to pancreatic cancer were $61,700. CONCLUSIONS: Despite poor prognosis and short survival, the economic burden of pancreatic cancer in the elderly is substantial. Demographic trends, greater use of targeted therapies, and possible implementation of screening strategies are likely to impact treatment patterns and costs in the future. Copyright © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Keywords: aged; aged, 80 and over; retrospective studies; major clinical study; united states; pancreas cancer; pancreatic neoplasms; treatment; adenocarcinoma; cancer therapy; distant metastasis; patient identification; health care cost; health service; medicare; health services; hospitalization; seer program; epidemiology; trend study; health care costs; medical care; population surveillance; cost; hospital cost; surveillance; and end results; health care services
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 118
Issue: 20
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2012-10-15
Start Page: 5132
End Page: 5139
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27490
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 22415469
PMCID: PMC5018231
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 2 November 2012" - "CODEN: CANCA" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Elena B Elkin
    163 Elkin
  2. Eileen O'Reilly
    780 O'Reilly
  3. Coral Lynn Atoria
    51 Atoria