Economic burden for informal caregivers of lung and colorectal cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Informal care provides many benefits to cancer patients, but can be costly to caregivers. This study quantified the economic burden for informal caregivers of lung cancer (LC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, examining differences by cancer type, phase of disease, stage at diagnosis, patient age, and relationship.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of caregivers of LC and CRC patients participating in the Share Thoughts on Care survey was conducted. Economic burden was calculated using the opportunity cost of caregiver time, the value of work hours lost, and out-of-pocket expenditures. Factors associated with economic burden to caregivers were modeled using fixed-effects generalized least squares estimation.


RESULTS
Informal caregivers (1,629) completed mailed surveys. Of these, 663, 822, and 144 were surveyed during the patient's initial phase (first year after diagnosis, not within 6 months of death), continuing phase (after 1 year, not within 6 months of death), and terminal phase (within 6 months of death) of disease, respectively. The accumulated economic burdens for caregivers were $7,028, $19,701, and $14,234 for those evaluated during the patient's initial phase, continuing phase, and terminal phase of disease, respectively. Economic burden was higher for caregivers of LC patients than CRC patients (p = .044) and for caregivers of patients diagnosed at stage 4 versus stage 1 (p = .001). Spouses faced higher economic burden than other relatives (p = .000) or friends (p = .000).


CONCLUSIONS
Economic burden for informal caregivers of LC and CRC patients is substantial and should be included in estimates of the societal cost of cancer care.
Van Houtven
Courtney Harold
CH
Building 16 HSRD, VAMC, 508 Fulton Street (558/152), Durham, NC 27705, USA. courtney.vanhoutven@duke.edu
Ramsey
Scott D
SD
Hornbrook
Mark C
MC
Atienza
Audie A
AA
van Ryn
Michelle
M
D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States