METHODS: A model was developed to estimate life-time costs for patients diagnosed with PCa. Patients greater than or equal to 65 years old and diagnosed with PCa between calendar years 1991-2002 were selected from the SEER database. Using SEER, we estimated survival times for PCa patients from diagnosis until death. The period of time patients contributed to treatment phases was determined using an algorithm designed to model the natural history of PCa. Costs were obtained from the US SEER-Medicare database and estimated during specific phases of care. Cost estimates were then combined with survival data to yield total and PCa-related life-time costs.
RESULTS: Overall, the model estimated life-time costs of $110,520 (95% CI 110,324-110,739) per patient. PCa-related costs made up approximately 31% of total costs ($34,432).
CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer places a significant burden on U.S. health-care systems with average life-time PCa-related costs in excess of $30,000.
Written by:
Stokes ME, Ishak J, Proskorovsky I, Black LK, Huang Y. Are you the author?
Reference: BMC Health Serv Res. 2011 Dec 28;11(1):349.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-11-349
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22204308
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section
