Health care resource use in advanced prostate cancer patients treated with docetaxel.

Summary of "Health care resource use in advanced prostate cancer patients treated with docetaxel."

Abstract Objective: Although the treatment of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has improved with newer therapies, there is little understanding how these therapies has impacted resource use and associated expenditures; available estimates are dated. The current study examined contemporary health care utilization and associated costs for mCRPC patients and how these measures changed over time. Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis used medical and pharmaceutical insurance claims data from a large non-payer-owned integrated claims database of US commercial insurers. Amongst all patients with a prostate cancer diagnosis (N=256,464), those with ≥1 docetaxel claim (docetaxel cohort, n=3642) were identified as mCRPC patients. Within the docetaxel cohort, an additional 6-months follow-up cohort (n=2862) was identified, i.e., patients with at least 6 months of follow-up after the first docetaxel claim. Resource utilization and costs were identified for all-cause hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, physician visits and ambulatory visits, and prostate cancer-related prescription treatments. Results: Significant increases in the mean per-patient-per-month (PPPM) count for the docetaxel cohort were observed for all medical resources measured (hospitalizations and ER, physician, and ambulatory visits) in the post-docetaxel period compared with the pre-docetaxel period (p<0.0001); similar significant increases were observed for the 6-months follow-up cohort in the last 6 months (prior to lost to follow-up date) compared with the period preceding the last 6 months (p<0.0408 ambulatory visits, p<0.0001 all other resources). Total docetaxel cohort costs (mean [standard deviation]) rose from an average PPPM cost of US$2593 (3208) in the pre-docetaxel period to US$5847 (6990) in the post-docetaxel period (p < 0.0001); each of the individual resources measured (hospitalization, all health care visits, and prescription costs) demonstrated significant increases (p<0.0001). Limitations: Retrospective study design. Conclusions: This large database analysis showed a significant increase in use of health care resources and associated costs among mCRPC patients following first-line docetaxel treatment.

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Journal Details

This article was published in the following journal.

Name: Journal of medical economics
ISSN: 1941-837X
Pages:

Links

• PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22463616
• DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3111/13696998.2012.681718