OBJECTIVES : Breast Cancer is the most prevalent cancer affecting women and it represents an important economic burden for the National Health System (NHS) and social perspective. The aim of this study was to estimate the socio-economic burden of breast cancer (BC) in Italy.

METHODS : The economic analysis was based on the costs incurred by the NHS and costs sustained from the National Social Security Institute (INPS) for patients with BC, and relied on two administrative databases for years 2009-2016: a) Hospital Information System (HIS), collecting information about hospital discharges and b) disability insurance awards, Disability Benefit, and Incapacity Pension. The inclusion criteria was either hospitalizations with primary diagnosis of Malignant neoplasm of female breast (ICD 9 CM 174.xx), Carcinoma in situ of breast (ICD 9 CM 233.0), or Secondary malignant neoplasm of breast (ICD 9 CM 198.81). A specific analysis was performed stratifying population between primary with no relapse, primary with relapse within 5 years and secondary BC patients.

RESULTS : Results show that the overall cost for hospitalisation for BC was about € 300 million per year, and the cost associated with patients with an early diagnosis of eBC not relapsing are significantly lower compared both to relapsed and secondary BC patients (€3,322, €10,111 and €5,883 respectively). From the Social Security analysis, a number of 29,000 beneficiaries each year was estimated. Considering per capita social costs, early BC caused € 8.828 per year, while secondary neoplasms cost € 9.780 with an average total economic burden of € 257 million per year.

CONCLUSIONS : This analysis focused on the economic impact of BC in Italy, showing that the metastatic disease was associated with higher costs. The ability to detect patients in an early stage of BC could reduce the total economic burden of disease.