Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026
07:20
Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
37.3K
Head and Neck Cancers Medical Costs in a Universal Health System: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.
Noémie Villemure-Poliquin1,2,3, Rui Fu1,2,4, Kelvin K W Chan2,4,5
1Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Summary
Head and neck cancers (HNC) cost over $53,000 per person in direct medical expenses over 63 months. Costs are highest early post-diagnosis and for advanced stages or multimodal treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- Head and neck cancers (HNC) represent a significant financial burden on healthcare systems.
- Understanding direct medical costs across HNC care phases is vital for resource allocation and cost-effectiveness in universal healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify direct medical costs of HNC over 60 months post-diagnosis.
- To analyze cost variations by cancer subsite, stage, and treatment modality.
Main Methods:
- Population-based, matched case-control study utilizing administrative healthcare data from Ontario, Canada.
- Included 19,832 adults diagnosed with HNC (2007-2020), matched with 5 controls each.
- Analyzed mean per-person direct medical costs over 63 months by care phase, subsite, stage, and treatment.
Main Results:
- Mean per-person HNC cost over 63 months was $53,812.9.
- Costs peaked in the first 3 months post-diagnosis ($9709.7/month) and decreased over time.
- Larynx/hypopharynx cancers, advanced stages (IV vs. I), and multimodal treatments (surgery + chemoradiation) incurred the highest costs.
Conclusions:
- HNC generates substantial healthcare costs with significant variations based on subsite, stage, and treatment.
- Peak costs occur during early treatment, remaining elevated for multimodal therapy patients.
- Findings inform resource allocation and cost-effectiveness evaluations for HNC care.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Arteries of the Head and Neck
3.7K
The human body's intricate network of arteries ensures that every organ system receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients for optimal function. The arterial network in the head and neck region is particularly complex, providing vital blood flow to the brain, eyes, and other critical structures. Prominent arteries in this region include the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries.
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
3.7K
01:19Veins of Head and Neck
5.9K
The blood drainage from the head and neck is primarily managed by three pairs of veins: the external jugular, internal jugular, and vertebral veins. The external jugular veins drain superficial scalp and face structures, passing over the sternocleidomastoid muscles to empty into the subclavian veins.
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
5.9K
02:04Conservation of Small Populations
17.5K
Small population sizes put a species at extreme risk of extinction due to a lack of variation, and a consequent decrease in adaptability. This weakens the chances of survival under pressures such as climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. Large populations are more likely to survive pressures such as these, as such populations are more likely to harbor individuals that have genetic variants that are adaptive under new stresses. Small populations are much less...
17.5K
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
488
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
488
01:25What is Population Genetics?
65.0K
A population is composed of members of the same species that simultaneously live and interact in the same area. When individuals in a population breed, they pass down their genes to their offspring. Many of these genes are polymorphic, meaning that they occur in multiple variants. Such variations of a gene are referred to as alleles. The collective set of all the alleles within a population is known as the gene pool.
65.0K
00:30What are Populations and Communities?
38.1K
Overview
38.1K