New insights into the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer treatment

Authors
Citation
Wk. Evans, New insights into the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer treatment, ONCOLOGY-NY, 13(9), 1999, pp. 16-21
Citations number
36
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology
Journal title
ONCOLOGY-NEW YORK
ISSN journal
0890-9091 → ACNP
Volume
13
Issue
9
Year of publication
1999
Supplement
4
Pages
16 - 21
Database
ISI
SICI code
0890-9091(199909)13:9<16:NIITCO>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
Despite growing evidence that patients with advanced non-small-cell lung ca ncer have improved survival and better symptom control with modern systemic therapy, there is still resistance to the use of chemotherapy because of t he perceived modest magnitude of benefit and concern about its cost. An ana lysis of the economic burden of care for non-small-cea lung cancer irt Cana da has revealed that the average cost to provide this care over 5 years is approximately $30,400 (1993 Canadian dollars). A large component of this co st, however; is related to initial diagnosis and in-hospital care, and to t erminal care costs. Estimates of most of the commonly used chemotherapy reg imens demonstrate that they are cost-effective and amount to less than the $20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained that is thought to be accepta ble for the early adoption of a health-care intervention in Canada. Some ch emotherapy regimens actually have the potential to decrease total health-ca re costs by reducing the use of acute care hospital beds for terminal care. Combined modality therapy for locally advanced iron-small-cell lung cancer has also been shown to be cost-effective.:The available evidence is that t he cost of treating advanced non-small-cell lung cancer is not excessive, a nd estimates of cost-effectiveness are well within the commonly accepted ra nge for the adoption of a new health-care technology.