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

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2015 Jun;41(6):758-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2015.01.019. Epub 2015 Jan 31.

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.

Keywords: Cancer incidence; Cost effectiveness; Economic burden; Thyroid cancer; Thyroidectomy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Direct Service Costs
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Services / economics*
  • Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Registries
  • Sex Factors
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / economics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy
  • Thyroidectomy / economics