Healthcare Utilization and Total Costs of Care Among Patients with Advanced Metastatic Gastric and Esophageal Cancer
Pranav Abraham, Liya Wang, Zhengzheng Jiang, Joseph Gricar, Hiangkiat Tan, Ronan J. Kelly
Abstract
Aim: Study first-line (1L) treatment patterns and economic outcomes among patients with advanced metastatic gastric cancer (GC) and esophageal cancer (EC). Materials & methods: Newly diagnosed patients with systemic GC and EC treatments were identified between 1 January 2011 and 31 July 2017; costs were presented as per patient per month (PPPM) basis. Results: Study included 392 GC and 436 EC patients. Most frequently used 1L regimens were: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) + oxaliplatin (22.5%) and epirubicin + cisplatin + 5-FU (ECF)/ECF modifications (21.9%) in patients with GC; and carboplatin + paclitaxel (29.6%) and 5-FU + oxaliplatin (11.5%) in EC patients. Mean all-cause costs were US$16,242 PPPM for GC, and $18,384 PPPM for EC during 1L treatment. Conclusion: GC and EC were resource intensive and costly. High costs and short treatment durations underscored a gap in care in 1L treatment.