Estimation of Healthcare-related Charges in Women with BRCA Mutations and Breast Cancer
Background
Breast cancer costs were estimated at $16.5 billion in 2010 and were higher than other cancer costs. There are limited studies on breast cancer charges and costs by BRCA mutations and receptor status. We examined overall health care and breast cancer-related charges by BRCA status (BRCAm vs. BRCAwt), receptor status (HER2+ vs. HER2-), and treatment setting (neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant).
Methods
Retrospective cohort study of charge data from 1995-2014 in an academic medical center. Facilities, physician, pharmacy, and diagnosis-related charges were presented as mean and median charges with standard deviation (SD) and interquartile ranges (25%-75%). Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess statistically significant differences in charges between comparators.
Results
Total median breast-cancer related charges were $65,414 for BRCAm and $54,635 for BRCAwt (p=0.19); however all-cause charges were higher for BRCAm patients ($145,066 vs. $119,119, p<0.001). HER2+ status was associated with higher median breast cancer charges ($152,159 vs. $44,087, p<0.0001) that was driven by the charges for biological agents. Patients initially seen in the neoadjuvant setting had higher mean breast cancer charges than in the adjuvant setting ($117,922 vs. $80,061, p<0.0001).
Conclusion
BRCA mutation status was not associated with higher breast cancer charges but HER2+ status had significantly higher charges, due to charges for biological agents. Patients who initially received neoadjuvant treatment had significantly higher overall treatment charges than adjuvant therapy patients. With the advent of novel therapies for BRCAm, the economic impact of these treatments will be important to consider relative to their survival benefits.
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Posted 07 Jan, 2021
On 24 Dec, 2020
On 16 Dec, 2020
On 15 Dec, 2020
On 15 Dec, 2020
On 15 Dec, 2020
On 08 Oct, 2020
Received 07 Oct, 2020
Received 28 Sep, 2020
On 21 Sep, 2020
On 16 Sep, 2020
On 26 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 28 Jul, 2020
On 16 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
Estimation of Healthcare-related Charges in Women with BRCA Mutations and Breast Cancer
Posted 07 Jan, 2021
On 24 Dec, 2020
On 16 Dec, 2020
On 15 Dec, 2020
On 15 Dec, 2020
On 15 Dec, 2020
On 08 Oct, 2020
Received 07 Oct, 2020
Received 28 Sep, 2020
On 21 Sep, 2020
On 16 Sep, 2020
On 26 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 28 Jul, 2020
On 16 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
Background
Breast cancer costs were estimated at $16.5 billion in 2010 and were higher than other cancer costs. There are limited studies on breast cancer charges and costs by BRCA mutations and receptor status. We examined overall health care and breast cancer-related charges by BRCA status (BRCAm vs. BRCAwt), receptor status (HER2+ vs. HER2-), and treatment setting (neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant).
Methods
Retrospective cohort study of charge data from 1995-2014 in an academic medical center. Facilities, physician, pharmacy, and diagnosis-related charges were presented as mean and median charges with standard deviation (SD) and interquartile ranges (25%-75%). Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess statistically significant differences in charges between comparators.
Results
Total median breast-cancer related charges were $65,414 for BRCAm and $54,635 for BRCAwt (p=0.19); however all-cause charges were higher for BRCAm patients ($145,066 vs. $119,119, p<0.001). HER2+ status was associated with higher median breast cancer charges ($152,159 vs. $44,087, p<0.0001) that was driven by the charges for biological agents. Patients initially seen in the neoadjuvant setting had higher mean breast cancer charges than in the adjuvant setting ($117,922 vs. $80,061, p<0.0001).
Conclusion
BRCA mutation status was not associated with higher breast cancer charges but HER2+ status had significantly higher charges, due to charges for biological agents. Patients who initially received neoadjuvant treatment had significantly higher overall treatment charges than adjuvant therapy patients. With the advent of novel therapies for BRCAm, the economic impact of these treatments will be important to consider relative to their survival benefits.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4