Cost Burdens on Patients Older than 66 with Oral Cavity, Pharyngeal Cancers

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

Several factors including demographics, comorbidities, and treatment selection are associated with the burdensome Medicare cost of oral and pharyngeal cancer in older patients, according to an article published online in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery. Participants in this study included patients 66 and older with newly diagnosed oral cavity (n = 6,724) and pharyngeal (n = 3,987) cancers between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2005. Results showed demographics, comorbidities, and treatment types were all associated with a significant cost increase. African Americans accumulated $11,450 (95% CI: $1,320, $22,299) more in costs for oral cavity cancer and $25,093 (95% CI: $14,917 - $ 34,985) more in costs for pharyngeal cancer. The mean 5-year cumulative costs for patients with the presence of one or two comorbidities and oral cavity cancer increased by $13,342 (95% CI: $6248, $19,186) and $14,139 (95% CI: $6,009, $22,217) for those with pharyngeal cancer. With the presence of three or more comorbidities, the mean 5-year cumulative costs for patients with oral cavity cancer increased by $22,196 (95% CI: $15,319, $28,614), while an increase of $27,799 (95% CI: $19,139, $36,702) was observed for patients with pharyngeal cancer. Patients with oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers who received chemotherapy accrued a mean of $26,919 (95% CI: $18,309, $35,056) and $37,407 (95% CI: $29,971, $44,644) more in Medicare costs by 5 years.

Several factors associated with the burdensome Medicare cost of oral and pharyngeal cancer in older patients.

In the United States, nearly 8400 patients die each year from oral cavity and pharynx cancers, most of whom are 65 years and older; however, the costs attributable to these cancers are not well described.

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