Healthcare Resource Use and Costs Associated with Endometrial Cancer Treatment in the Private Setting in Brazil

OBJECTIVES: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the tenth most common type of cancer among women in Brazil, with 5,886 new cases estimated per year and a mortality rate of 1.48 deaths per 100,000 women. EC places a significant burden on the Brazilian private healthcare system, with an estimated total cost related to hospitalizations of almost 45 million Brazilian Real (BRL) in the period 2015–2019. This study aimed to estimate EC management costs in the Brazilian private setting.

METHODS: An expert panel was conducted with five gynecological oncologists to capture patient annual costs used in EC diagnosis, monitoring examinations, disease complications and adverse event management in first (1L) and second (2L) line treatment. EC cost was estimated according to the identified resources using price references for drugs and procedures from official reimbursement lists from different healthcare providers. Costs per patient (in BRL) were reported.

RESULTS: Non-recurring costs (diagnosis examinations) were 1,410 BRL in 1L and 940 BRL in 2L. Estimated annual costs associated with patient monitoring (examinations and medical appointments), emergency visits, and hospitalizations averaged 64,321 to 106,125 BRL in 1L and 2L, respectively. Additional monitoring examinations due to treatment toxicity could incur estimated further annual costs of 512–4,642 BRL.

CONCLUSIONS: EC management costs can vary substantially depending on 1L and 2L treatment, with a greater burden reported in 2L due to monitoring examinations, emergency visits, hospitalizations, and treatment costs. This highlights the need for 1L and 2L treatments that can deliver the best cost-benefit ratio and reduce the cost burden in 2L.