Methodological outlines for assessing the costs of cancer patients care

Abstract

Introduction. The planning of funding in the public health system and specifically in cancer care remains a challenge for the medical community. Some issues of cancer cost analysis are still not entirely resolved. Aims. To review the options for analysis of direct cancer costs based on registered follow-up data. Methods. The targeting and consensus search methodology was applied to collect the relevant papers from PubMed, Cochrane, E-library (RSCI). Results and Discussion. The following options have been identified: 1) using incidence data; 2) using prevalence data; 3) system net and total costs approach; 4) phase approach; 5) cost estimation using censored data. The incidence costs are related to the time of diagnosis. The prevalence costs represent the costs over a fixed calendar period. The net costs can be calculated by subtracting the mean costs across non-cancer patients from the total mean costs across comparable cancer patients. Total costs are defined as the summated costs for cancer patients regardless of whether they are associated with cancer or not. Phase analysis is a variant of estimates based on morbidity data and includes identifying specific periods from the diagnosis when the costs significantly change. Cost estimation using censored data provides for the application of mathematical modeling methods. Conclusion. The availability of combined cost analysis methods makes it possible to obtain a comprehensive economic assessment for cancer treatment approaches.