Trends in Epidemiology and Mortality of Patients With Colorectal Cancer in Germany: A Retrospective Study Using German Claims Data

Speaker(s)

Mevius A1, Müller S2, Dornig S3, Wilke T1
1Institut für Pharmakoökonomie und Arzneimittellogistik e.V. (IPAM), Wismar, Germany, 2GIPAM GmbH, Wismar, MV, Germany, 3AOK PLUS, Jena, Germany

Presentation Documents

OBJECTIVES: Despite progress in the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer (CC), it remains one of the most frequent cancer diagnoses. Updated estimates of its epidemiology and mortality are needed to better understand the CC burden in Germany. This research aims to estimate the incidence/prevalence of CC in Germany and to describe trends in mortality in the last ten years.

METHODS: Utilizing claims data from AOK PLUS (German sickness fund with 3.5 million insured persons), CC cases were identified by outpatient and inpatient diagnoses (ICD-10-GM: C18-C20). Cumulative CC incidence in 2012/2016/2022 and point prevalence on January 1st of the following year were assessed and extrapolated (age-/gender-standardized) to the overall German population. Standardized mortality rates for 2012/2016/2022 were evaluated in cross-sectional CC samples.

RESULTS: Age- and gender-standardized German CC incidence and prevalence in 2012/2016/2022 were 0.101%/0.101%/0.093% and 0.529%/0.571%/0.584%, respectively. Based on a German population of 83.3 million persons, this translates into 78,302 incident CC cases in the year 2022 and 486,472 CC-prevalent patients on January 1, 2023. Yearly mortality in the extrapolated prevalent GER CC population literally remained to be constant, with mortality rates of 7.9% in 2012, 7.8% in 2016, and 7.9% in 2022.

CONCLUSIONS: CC incidence and prevalence estimates based on claims data are much higher than in the official German RKI (Robert Koch Institute) statistics, probably due to a certain degree of overreporting in claims data, but mainly due to missed cases in the cancer registries resulting from underreporting in outpatient and inpatient practices. Reports from inpatient and outpatient oncology sites form the basis of the RKI statistics. Mortality in CC-prevalent patients remained constant in the last ten years, indicating that recent advances in the treatment of CC so far did not translate into lower mortality rates.

Code

EPH110

Topic

Epidemiology & Public Health

Disease

No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology