Clinical impact (cost-effectiveness) of qualifying atypical squamous cells of undeterminate significance (ASCUS) in cases favoring a reactive or dysplastic process

Cost profiles of colorectal cancer patients in Italy based on individual patterns of care

Background

Due to changes in cancer-related risk factors, improvements in diagnostic procedures and treatments, and the aging of the population, in most developed countries cancer accounts for an increasing proportion of health care expenditures. The analysis of cancer-related costs is a topic of several economic and epidemiological studies and represents a research area of great interest to public health planners and policy makers. In Italy studies are limited either to some specific types of expenditures or to specific groups of cancer patients. Aim of the paper is to estimate the distribution of cancer survivors and associated health care expenditures according to a disease pathway which identifies three clinically relevant phases: initial (one year following diagnosis), continuing (between initial and final) and final (one year before death).

Methods

The methodology proposed is based on the reconstruction of patterns of care at individual level by combining different data sources, surveillance data and administrative data, in areas covered by cancer registration.

Results

A total colorectal cancer-related expenditure of 77.8 million Euros for 18012 patients (corresponding to about 4300 Euros per capita) is estimated in 2006 in two Italian areas located in Tuscany and Veneto regions, respectively. Cost of care varies according to the care pathway: 11% of patients were in the initial phase, and consumed 34% of total expenditure; patients in the final (6%) and in the continuing (83%) phase consumed 23% and 43% of the budget, respectively. There is an association between patterns of care/costs and patients characteristics such as stage and age at diagnosis.

Conclusions

This paper represents the first attempt to attribute health care expenditures in Italy to specific phases of disease, according to varying treatment approaches, surveillance strategies and management of relapses, palliative care. The association between stage at diagnosis, profile of therapies and costs supports the idea that primary prevention and early detection play an important role in a public health perspective. Results from this pilot study encourage the use of such analyses in a public health perspective, to increase understanding of patient outcomes and economic consequences of differences in policies related to cancer screening, treatment, and programs of care.

Triage with human papillomavirus testing of women with cytologic abnormalities prompting referral for colposcopy assessment

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of triaging for colposcopy using human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.

METHODS

HPV tests were performed in a consecutive series of women who were referred for colposcopy for persistent atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)-favor reactive (n = 35 women), ASCUS-favor squamous epithelial lesion (n = 164 women), atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (n = 74 women), low-grade squamous epithelial lesion (n = 161 women), or high-grade squamous epithelial lesion (n = 78 women). The cost effectiveness of triaging women with ASCUS results using HPV testing was determined compared with the current protocol.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of HPV testing for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia > Grade 2 was very high. Cost analysis showed a moderate increase in cost with the addition of HPV triage.

CONCLUSIONS

Because HPV testing is highly sensitive, it may be useful as an alternative to the current policy of 6-month repeat cytology for women with ASCUS.