Racial differences in the cost of treating men with early-stage prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the cost and resource utilization in the evaluation, treatment, and 6-month follow-up of African-American and White men undergoing either external beam radiation therapy (XRT) or radical prostatectomy (RP) for early-stage prostate cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of cost and resource utilization data from encrypted patient-specific hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and physician/supplier data files.


METHODS
National Medicare claims data from 1993 through 1996.


METHODS
A random 5% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries from the Health Care Financing Administration Public Use Files for 1993 through 1996.


METHODS
Inpatient, outpatient, and physician/supplier Medicare costs.


RESULTS
African-American men undergoing RP for early-stage prostate cancer had significantly higher costs ($21,878 vs $18,786, P < .0001) than did White men. Most of the difference occurred in the inpatient setting. African-American men undergoing XRT had significantly greater costs ($18,131 vs $15,734, P < .0001) than did White men. Most of this difference was generated by longer duration of XRT treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
In early-stage prostate cancer, charges for RP and XRT in African-American men are higher when compared with those for White men.
Brandeis
J
J
Department of Urology, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-1738, USA.
Pashos
C L
CL
Henning
J M
JM
Litwin
M S
MS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000191:economics* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*