Breast cancer, one of the most prevalent cancers globally, imposes a substantial economic burden, especially in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). A recent systematic review delved into the cost of illness (COI) studies related to breast cancer in LMICs, providing a comprehensive analysis of the financial implications for patients and healthcare systems in these regions.
Diverse Cost Factors Examined
The review incorporated studies sourced from Cochrane, Proquest Thesis, PubMed, and Scopus databases. To ensure reliability and consistency, only peer-reviewed, full-text articles reporting cost data in English were considered. These studies were evaluated against the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) 2022 statement, ensuring adherence to rigorous reporting criteria.
Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, with costs adjusted to 2022 USD for uniformity. The findings revealed a broad spectrum of annual costs per patient: direct medical costs ranged from $195 to $11,866, direct non-medical costs from $201 to $2233, and productivity losses from $332 to $26,390. Such variability in costs underscores the differing healthcare infrastructures, treatment protocols, and economic conditions across LMICs.
Implications for Market Access
The substantial financial burden associated with breast cancer treatment in LMICs highlights the need for improved market access to affordable healthcare services and medications. Market access barriers, such as high treatment costs and limited availability of medical resources, exacerbate the economic strain on patients and healthcare systems. Addressing these barriers could significantly alleviate the financial challenges faced by breast cancer patients in these regions.
Interestingly, only three of the reviewed COI studies included sensitivity analysis and discount rates, pointing to a gap in comprehensive economic evaluations. This gap suggests that future studies should focus on a more detailed analysis of cost components and their relationship with other variables, which could provide better insights into the economic impact of breast cancer in different contexts.
Key Inferences on Economic Burden
Key Insights:
- Direct medical costs vary significantly, influenced by local healthcare practices and resource availability.
- Non-medical costs, including transportation and accommodation, add a considerable burden on patients.
- Productivity losses highlight the broader economic impact of breast cancer, affecting both patients and their families.
- Lack of comprehensive economic evaluations indicates a need for more detailed future studies.
In conclusion, the systematic review underscores the pressing need for enhanced market access strategies to mitigate the financial burden of breast cancer in LMICs. By addressing the economic disparities and improving healthcare affordability, it is possible to significantly reduce the economic impact on patients and healthcare systems in these regions.
Original Article:
Health Econ Rev. 2024 Jul 22;14(1):56. doi: 10.1186/s13561-024-00536-0.
ABSTRACT
This systematic review explores the cost of illness (COI) studies on breast cancer in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Studies in Cochrane, Proquest Thesis, PubMed and Scopus were considered. The reporting criteria were evaluated using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) 2022 statement. Studies must (1) be peer-reviewed, (2) report cost data, and (3) be full-text articles. Non-English articles were excluded. Twelve studies were included. The identified costs were made constant to 2022 USD values for reporting and comparison across studies. Annual costs per patient varied from $195 to $11,866 direct medical costs, $201 to $2233 direct non-medical costs and $332 to $26,390 productivity losses were reported. Cost differences were due to the cost types and components in each study. Only three COI studies reported sensitivity analysis and discount rates. Hence, it is recommended that future COI studies include an analysis of correlation between cost components and other variables.
PMID:39034345 | DOI:10.1186/s13561-024-00536-0
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