Trends in Epidemiology and Mortality of Patients With Bladder Cancer in Germany: A Retrospective Study Using German Claims Data
Author(s)
Antje Mevius1, Sabrina Müller, MSc2, Benjamin Birkner, MASc, MSc3, Thomas Wilke, PhD4.
1Research Principal, IPAM e.V., Wismar, Germany, 2GIPAM GmbH, Wismar, Germany, 3GWQ ServicePlus AG, Hamburg, Germany, 4IPAM e.V., Wismar, Germany.
1Research Principal, IPAM e.V., Wismar, Germany, 2GIPAM GmbH, Wismar, Germany, 3GWQ ServicePlus AG, Hamburg, Germany, 4IPAM e.V., Wismar, Germany.
OBJECTIVES: Despite progress in the detection and treatment of bladder cancer (BC), it remains one of the common cancer diagnoses. Updated estimates of its epidemiology and mortality are needed to better understand the BC burden in Germany. This research aims to estimate the incidence/prevalence of BC in Germany and to describe trends in mortality in the last eleven years.
METHODS: Utilizing anonymized claims data from 19 German sickness funds with 6.3 million insured persons provided by GWQ ServicePlus AG, BC cases were identified by outpatient and inpatient diagnoses (ICD-10-GM: C67). Cumulative BC incidence in 2012/2018/2023 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 2012/2018/2023 were evaluated in cross-sectional BC samples.
RESULTS: Age- and gender-standardized German BC incidence and prevalence in 2012/2018/2023 were 0.048%/0.036%/0.038% and 0.236%/0.224%/0.235%, respectively. Based on a German population of 84.7 million persons, this translates into 32,155 incident BC cases in the year 2023 and 199,103 BC-prevalent patients on January 1, 2024. Yearly mortality in the extrapolated prevalent GER BC population increased slightly, with mortality rates of 5.64% in 2012, 5.85% in 2018, and 5.97% in 2023.
CONCLUSIONS: BC incidence and prevalence estimates based on claims data are higher than in the official German RKI (Robert Koch Institute) statistics. This is 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. Mortality in BC-prevalent patients increased slightly, probably due to an increased average age of BC populations. Combined with an increasing prevalence of BC, this indicates an increased health system burden associated with BC.
METHODS: Utilizing anonymized claims data from 19 German sickness funds with 6.3 million insured persons provided by GWQ ServicePlus AG, BC cases were identified by outpatient and inpatient diagnoses (ICD-10-GM: C67). Cumulative BC incidence in 2012/2018/2023 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 2012/2018/2023 were evaluated in cross-sectional BC samples.
RESULTS: Age- and gender-standardized German BC incidence and prevalence in 2012/2018/2023 were 0.048%/0.036%/0.038% and 0.236%/0.224%/0.235%, respectively. Based on a German population of 84.7 million persons, this translates into 32,155 incident BC cases in the year 2023 and 199,103 BC-prevalent patients on January 1, 2024. Yearly mortality in the extrapolated prevalent GER BC population increased slightly, with mortality rates of 5.64% in 2012, 5.85% in 2018, and 5.97% in 2023.
CONCLUSIONS: BC incidence and prevalence estimates based on claims data are higher than in the official German RKI (Robert Koch Institute) statistics. This is 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. Mortality in BC-prevalent patients increased slightly, probably due to an increased average age of BC populations. Combined with an increasing prevalence of BC, this indicates an increased health system burden associated with BC.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH260
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology