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

Speaker(s)

Müller S1, Dornig S2, Wilke T3, Mevius A3
1GIPAM GmbH, Wismar, MV, Germany, 2AOK PLUS, Jena, Germany, 3Institut für Pharmakoökonomie und Arzneimittellogistik e.V. (IPAM), Wismar, Germany

OBJECTIVES: Despite progress in the earlier detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer (PaC), it remains a common cancer diagnosis, associated with the highest mortality rate among all frequent cancer types. This research aims to estimate the incidence/prevalence of PaC 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), PaC cases were identified by outpatient and inpatient diagnoses (ICD-10-GM: C25). Cumulative PaC 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 PaC samples.

RESULTS: Age- and gender-standardized German PaC incidence and prevalence in 2012/2016/2022 were 0.030%/0.032%/0.033% and 0.055%/0.064%/0.069%, respectively. Based on a German population of 83.3 million persons, this translates into 26,656 incident PaC cases in the year 2022 and 57,477 PaC-prevalent patients on January 1, 2023. Yearly mortality in the extrapolated prevalent GER CC population decreased, with mortality rates of 21.7% in 2012, 19.2% in 2016, and 18.7% in 2022.

CONCLUSIONS: PaC 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 PaC-prevalent patients decreased substantially in the last ten years, probably indicating more effective treatments available to patients. Nevertheless, with almost 20% of PaC-prevalent patients dying every year, this cancer type remains one of the greatest oncology challenges.

Code

EPH279

Topic

Epidemiology & Public Health

Disease

No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology