Cost of treating metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review

N Bhimani; G Y M Wong; C Molloy; N Pavlakis; C I Diakos; S J Clarke; M Dieng; T J Hugh

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2022.06.022

Cost of treating metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review

Public Health. 2022 Oct:211:97-104. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.06.022. Epub 2022 Sep 2.

Authors

N Bhimani¹, G Y M Wong², C Molloy², N Pavlakis³, C I Diakos³, S J Clarke³, M Dieng⁴, T J Hugh⁵

Affiliations

¹ Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Nazim.bhimani@health.nsw.gov.au.
² Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
³ Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 36063775
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.06.022

Abstract

Objective: The cost of treating metastatic colorectal cancer places a significant economic burden on individuals, populations, and health care. However, there is a paucity of information on the costs of the contemporary management of metastatic colorectal cancer. This systematic review aims to review the literature to estimate the direct cost of treating metastatic colorectal cancer.

Study design: Systematic review.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews: National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database Guide, EconLit, and grey literature from the 1st of January 2000 to the 1st of February 2020 were all searched for studies reporting the direct costs of treating metastatic colorectal cancer. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Evers' Consensus on Health Economic Criteria checklist.

Results: In total, 39,489 records were retrieved, and 29 studies were included. Costs of treating metastatic colorectal cancer varied because of the heterogeneity of treatment. Studies reported average costs ranged from $12,346 to $293,461. Studies that included the cost of systemic therapy reported an estimated cost of almost $300,000.

Conclusion: The existing evidence indicates that the cost of treating metastatic colorectal cancer places a significant economic burden on healthcare systems despite differences in methodology and treatment heterogeneity. Future research needs to define the cost components of treating metastatic colorectal cancer to improve comparability and examine the relationship between spending, overall survival, and quality of life. Identifying these costs and their impact on health care budgets can help policymakers plan health system expenditure.

Keywords: Costs and cost analysis; Financial toxicity; Metastatic colorectal cancer; Systematic review; Treatment.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Colorectal Neoplasms* / pathology
Colorectal Neoplasms* / therapy
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Health Expenditures
Humans
Quality of Life
State Medicine*