Abstract 216P
Background
This cost-of-illness study analyses the socio-economic burden of breast cancer survivorship for the ten years following initial treatment in Germany during 2000, 2010, and 2020.
Methods
We developed a patient level micro-costing approach that considers direct and indirect medical expenses resulting from cancer follow-ups to estimate the economic spending of breast cancer survivorship. The frequency of recommended follow-up procedures was obtained from German guidelines. Direct medical expenses were derived from literature and official scales of tariffs, while indirect expenses were estimated based on opportunity costs. Expenses for patients, providers, and insurers were combined to calculate societal costs.
Results
Mean ten-year breast cancer follow-up costs for the society amounted to 7,549€ (95% CI: 5,936-8,956) in 2020. Societal expenditure rose by +18% from 2000 to 2020 (p<0.001). Whilst insurers covered 34% of expenses in 2000, they only reimbursed 24% in 2020 – the increased economic burden was thereby shifted onto patients and providers. Resource consumption entailed physician-patient consultations (43%), imaging (35%), and travel expenditure (22%). Spending was unevenly distributed across follow-up years (years 1-2: 37%, years 3-5: 31%, years 5-10: 32%).
Conclusions
This study highlights the rising socio-economic burden cancer survivorship poses for patients and the healthcare system. Advances in screening, diagnostics, and novel therapeutics successfully decreased cancer mortality rates; yet also led to a surge in the population of cancer survivors. Personalized, risk-stratified, and evidence-based follow-up programs are required to care for breast cancer survivors.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.