Cost of Illness in Patient With Colorectal Cancer in México (2022)

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the total medical costs of colorectal cancer patients between symptom onset, seeking care, and initiation of treatment, and factors that interfere with these processes. Including 229 patients, where the direct costs of all patients in the gastroenterology area with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

METHODS: Descriptive correlational study, including 229 patients, where the direct costs of all patients in the gastroenterology area with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer seen at INCAN from January to December 2022 were estimated. Data on hospital admissions, emergency department and outpatient visits, and drug prescriptions in 2022 following colorectal cancer diagnosis were obtained from administrative databases. The outcomes measured were the average actual costs per patient during this 12-month period, calculated and stratified by stage of disease at diagnosis, tumor histology, and tumor site. Costs are expressed in 2022 USD.

RESULTS: Of 229 patients investigated the majority were male (59.8%), with mean age 58 years (IQR 49-69 years). The mean total time between symptom onset and treatment initiation was 3.64 months and the mean time between seeking medical care and diagnosis was 3.34 months. The average total medical care cost per patient was $18,055.56 USD. The costs of systemic treatment of advanced colorectal cancer were driven primarily by drug acquisition and administration costs.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the longer interval between seeking medical care and diagnosis was possibly caused by negative association between presenting symptoms and disease, causing more advanced stages of disease which are significantly more costly to manage. The present results may serve as a reference for future economic evaluations of treatment strategies for patients with colorectal cancer.