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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
The cost of treating skeletal-related events in patients with prostate cancer
Maureen J Lage1, Beth L Barber, David J Harrison
1HealthMetrics Outcomes Research, LLC, 120 Anchorage Cir, Groton CT 06340, USA. lagemj@hlthmetrics.com
Objectives:
To examine the economic burden of skeletal-related events (SREs) and to assess the frequency of different types of SREs in this population.
Study Design:
Retrospective claims analysis.
Methods:
Data were obtained from i3's Lab Rx Database from May 1, 2000, through March 31, 2005. Patients included had at least 2 claims with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, at least 2 subsequent claims with a diagnosis of bone metastasis, and at least 1 SRE on or after the date of the initial diagnosis of bone metastasis. Descriptive statistics for 342 patients who fit all inclusion and exclusion criteria are provided, along with Kaplan-Meier curves, which were used to estimate annual costs, adjusting for the censoring of the data.
Results:
Patients most frequently had radiation therapy (89%), followed by pathologic fracture (23%) and bone surgery (12%). Among patients diagnosed as having at least 1 SRE, 78% experienced 1 type of SRE, 17% had 2 types of SREs, and 5% had 3 or more distinct types of SREs. The mean costs associated with SREs in the year after the initial diagnosis of an SRE, adjusted for the censoring of the data, was $12,469, with the highest costs associated with radiation therapy ($5930), followed by pathologic fracture ($3179) and bone surgery ($2218).
Conclusion:
This study of patients with prostate cancer and bone metastases revealed that the annual economic effect of medically treating SREs for these patients was $12,469.
