OBJECTIVES : Analyzed the economic burden of Chinese ovarian cancer patients and the medical cost under different treatments basing on data from medical institutions, to provide evidence for disease management of ovarian cancer.

METHODS : We observed the ovarian cancer patients started from they receiving surgery or chemotherapy, and collected the data of patients from medical institutions in Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Jinan and Changsha during the treatment period. Using the data, we conducted a descriptive analysis of the medical costs and expenditure pattern in patients with ovarian cancer.

RESULTS : The study included 279 patients with ovarian cancer, average observed duration was 3.4 months. According to the clinical data analysis, average cost per outpatient visit was 573.42（±737.79）RMB, average cost per inpatient visit was 13379.20（±11926.82）RMB, monthly cost per capita was 14543.97（±14413.96）RMB. Average cost per outpatient visit of patients who had surgery alone was 322.88（±561.66）RMB, average cost per inpatient visit was 13769.48（±11389.07）RMB, monthly cost per capita was 14271.35（±11878.31）RMB. Average cost per outpatient visit of patients who had chemotherapy alone was 523.99（±893.63）RMB, average cost per inpatient visit was 12350.21（±8118.65）RMB, monthly cost per capita was 12510.27（±9647.44）RMB. Average cost per outpatient visit of patients who had surgery and chemotherapy was 286.04（±366.77）RMB, average cost per inpatient visit was 15248.48（±14966.46）RMB, monthly cost per capita was 18719.85（±22349.37）RMB; In addition, the cost of ovarian cancer patients mainly concentrated in the cost of drug and treatment, accounting for 47.67% and 34.33%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS : Basing on the analysis, ovarian cancer put a severe economic burden, especially in patients with standardized synchronous surgery and chemical treatment. This study analyzed the medical cost of patients with ovarian cancer in different treatments, but lack of research on the cost of the whole disease cycle for ovarian cancer patients.