Real-World Data on Metastatic Lung Cancer: Cost Analyses in Brazil From a Private Insurance Company's Perspective

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis at late stages contributes to high treatment costs.
• Understanding treatment expenses in private healthcare settings is vital for resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the treatment costs associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a Brazilian private healthcare system.
• To analyze the relationship between treatment modalities, survival rates, and associated healthcare expenditures.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study was conducted.
• Data on costs, survival, and quality of care for stage IV NSCLC patients were analyzed.
• Patients were treated within a private health company in Brazil.

Main Results:

• Patients receiving targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or both demonstrated significantly higher survival rates.
• Sequentially treated patients with targeted therapy and immunotherapy incurred the highest total costs ($172,828 USD).
• Despite increased survival with modern treatments, hospital admission rates and length of stay remained similar to chemotherapy alone.

Conclusions:

• Advanced NSCLC patients receiving modern treatments (targeted therapy, immunotherapy) exhibit improved survival but higher associated costs.
• Establishing cost-effectiveness thresholds is essential for managing healthcare expenditures, particularly in developing countries.
• Further research into cost-effectiveness is warranted to guide treatment decisions and resource allocation.