title: Cost of skeletal complications from bone metastases in six European countries.
abstract: Objective Patients with bone metastases or lesions secondary to solid tumors or multiple myeloma often experience bone complications (skeletal-related events [SREs]-radiation to bone, pathologic fracture, surgery to bone, and spinal cord compression); however, recent data that can be used to assess the value of treatments to prevent SREs across European countries are limited. This study aimed to provide estimates of health resource utilization (HRU) and cost associated with all SRE types in Europe. HRU data were reported previously; cost data are reported herein. Methods Eligible patients from 49 centers across Austria (n = 57), the Czech Republic (n = 59), Finland (n = 60), Greece (n = 59), Portugal (n = 59), and Sweden (n = 62) had bone metastases or lesions secondary to breast, lung, or prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma, and ≥1 index SRE (a SRE preceded by a SRE-free period of ≥ 6.5 months). SRE-related costs were estimated from a payer perspective using health resource utilization data from patient charts (before and after the index SRE diagnosis). Country-specific unit costs were from 2010 and local currencies were converted to 2010 euros. Results The mean costs across countries were €7043, €5242, €11,101, and €11,509 per radiation to bone, pathologic fracture, surgery to bone, and spinal cord compression event, respectively. Purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted mean cost ratios were similar in most countries, with the exception of radiation to bone. Limitations The overall burden of SREs may have been under-estimated owing to home visits and evaluations outside the hospital setting not being reported here. Conclusions All SREs were associated with substantial costs. Variation in SRE-associated costs between countries was most likely driven by differences in treatment practices and unit costs.
authors: a Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre (CISP) , Lisbon , Portugal ;
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pereira
authors: b C.H.U. Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium ;
authors: J-J
authors: JJ
authors: Body
authors: c Centre for Observational Research, Amgen Ltd , Uxbridge , UK ;
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Gunther
authors: d HAGA Hospital , The Hague , The Netherlands ;
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Sleeboom
authors: e Health Economics, Amgen (Europe) GmbH , Zug , Switzerland ;
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Hechmati
authors: f Department of Health Services Management , National School of Public Health , Athens , Greece ;
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Maniadakis
authors: g University of Athens School of Medicine, Alexandra University Hospital , Athens , Greece ;
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Terpos
authors: h Kantonsspital Graubünden , Chur , Switzerland ;
authors: Y P
authors: YP
authors: Acklin
authors: i University Hospital , Plzen , Czech Republic ;
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Finek
authors: j Kantonsspital Graubünden , Chur , Switzerland.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: von Moos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000556:secondary*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Bone metastases; Cost; Europe; Skeletal-related events; Supportive care