1
|
Goldsbury DE, Haywood P, Pearce A, Collins LG, Karikios D, Canfell K, Steinberg J, Weber MF. Out-of-pocket health care expenses for people with and without cancer, New South Wales, 2020: a cross-sectional study. Med J Aust 2024; 221:94-102. [PMID: 38924542 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate self-reported out-of-pocket health care expenses, both overall and by cost type, for a large population-based sample of Australians, by cancer status and socio-demographic and medical characteristics. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS New South Wales residents participating in the 45 and Up Study (recruited aged 45 years or older during 2005-2009) who completed the 2020 follow-up questionnaire; survey responses linked with New South Wales Cancer Registry data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Proportions of respondents who reported that out-of-pocket health care expenses during the preceding twelve months exceeded $1000 or $10 000; adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for associations with socio-demographic and medical characteristics. RESULTS Of the 267 357 recruited 45 and Up Study participants, 45 061 completed the 2020 survey (response rate, 53%); 42.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42.2-43.1%) reported that overall out-of-pocket health care expenses during the previous year exceeded $1000, including 55.4% (52.1-58.7%) of participants diagnosed in the preceding two years and 44.9% (43.7-46.1%) of participants diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago. After adjustment for socio-demographic factors, out-of-pocket expenses greater than $1000 were more likely to be reported by participants with cancer than by those without cancer (diagnosis in past two years: aOR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.77-2.40]; diagnosis more than two years ago: aOR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.15-1.29]). The odds of out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $1000 increased with area-based socio-economic advantage and household income, and were higher for people with private health insurance (v people with Medicare coverage only: aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.53-1.75). Out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $10 000 were also more likely for participants diagnosed with cancer during the past two years (v no cancer: aOR, 3.30; 95% CI, 2.56-4.26). CONCLUSIONS People diagnosed with cancer during the past two years were much more likely than people without cancer to report twelve-month out-of-pocket health care expenses that exceeded $1000. Out-of-pocket expenses for people with cancer can exacerbate financial strain at a time of vulnerability, and affect health care equity because some people cannot pay for all available treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David E Goldsbury
- The Daffodil Centre, the University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW
- Sydney School of Public Health, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
| | - Philip Haywood
- Sydney School of Public Health, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
- Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW
| | - Alison Pearce
- The Daffodil Centre, the University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW
- Sydney School of Public Health, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
| | - Louisa G Collins
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD
| | - Deme Karikios
- Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW
- Nepean Clinical School, the University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW
| | - Karen Canfell
- The Daffodil Centre, the University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW
| | - Julia Steinberg
- The Daffodil Centre, the University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW
| | - Marianne F Weber
- The Daffodil Centre, the University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Azzani M, Atroosh WM, Anbazhagan D, Kumarasamy V, Abdalla MMI. Describing financial toxicity among cancer patients in different income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1266533. [PMID: 38229668 PMCID: PMC10789858 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1266533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background There is limited evidence of financial toxicity (FT) among cancer patients from countries of various income levels. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of objective and subjective FT and their measurements in relation to cancer treatment. Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched to find studies that examined FT. There was no limit on the design or setting of the study. Random-effects meta-analysis was utilized to obtain the pooled prevalence of objective FT. Results Out of 244 identified studies during the initial screening, only 64 studies were included in this review. The catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) method was often used in the included studies to determine the objective FT. The pooled prevalence of CHE was 47% (95% CI: 24.0-70.0) in middle- and high-income countries, and the highest percentage was noted in low-income countries (74.4%). A total of 30 studies focused on subjective FT, of which 9 used the Comprehensive Score for FT (COST) tool and reported median scores ranging between 17.0 and 31.9. Conclusion This study shows that cancer patients from various income-group countries experienced a significant financial burden during their treatment. It is imperative to conduct further studies on interventions and policies that can lower FT caused by cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meram Azzani
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
- Centre of Occupational Safety, Health and Wellbeing, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wahib Mohammed Atroosh
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Aden, Aden, Yemen
| | - Deepa Anbazhagan
- Department of Microbiology, International Medical School (IMS), Management & Science University (MSU), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Vinoth Kumarasamy
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla
- Physiology Department, Human Biology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University (IMU), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Merollini KMD, Gordon LG, Ho YM, Aitken JF, Kimlin MG. Cancer Survivors’ Long-Term Health Service Costs in Queensland, Australia: Results of a Population-Level Data Linkage Study (Cos-Q). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159473. [PMID: 35954835 PMCID: PMC9368477 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide, the number of cancer survivors is rapidly increasing. The aim of this study was to quantify long-term health service costs of cancer survivorship on a population level. The study cohort comprised residents of Queensland, Australia, diagnosed with a first primary malignancy between 1997 and 2015. Administrative databases were linked with cancer registry records to capture all health service utilization. Health service costs between 2013–2016 were analyzed using a bottom-up costing approach. The cumulative mean annual healthcare expenditure (2013–2016) for the cohort of N = 230,380 individuals was AU$3.66 billion. The highest costs were incurred by patients with a history of prostate (AU$538 m), breast (AU$496 m) or colorectal (AU$476 m) cancers. Costs by time since diagnosis were typically highest in the first year after diagnosis and decreased over time. Overall mean annual healthcare costs per person (2013–2016) were AU$15,889 (SD: AU$25,065) and highest costs per individual were for myeloma (AU$45,951), brain (AU$30,264) or liver cancer (AU$29,619) patients. Our results inform policy makers in Australia of the long-term health service costs of cancer survivors, provide data for economic evaluations and reinforce the benefits of investing in cancer prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina M. D. Merollini
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
- Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Birtinya, QLD 4575, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-7-5202-3159
| | - Louisa G. Gordon
- Health Economics, Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia;
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia;
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Yiu M. Ho
- Rockhampton Hospital, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, QLD 4700, Australia;
- Rural Clinical School, The University of Queensland, Rockhampton, QLD 4700, Australia
| | - Joanne F. Aitken
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia;
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Michael G. Kimlin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Woods JA, Katzenellenbogen JM, Murray K, Johnson CE, Thompson SC. Occurrence and timely management of problems requiring prompt intervention among Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous Australian palliative care patients: a multijurisdictional cohort study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e042268. [PMID: 33727263 PMCID: PMC7970279 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Anticipation and prompt relief of symptoms among patients with a life-limiting illness is a core element of palliative care. Indigenous Australians commonly encounter cultural barriers in healthcare that may impair outcomes. The Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration collects patient care data for the purposes of continuous quality improvement and benchmarking, with each recorded care episode divided into phases that reflect a patient's condition. We aimed to investigate differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients in the occurrence and duration of 'unstable' phases (which indicate unanticipated deterioration in a patient's condition or circumstances), and determine attainment of the relevant benchmark (resolution of unstable phases in ≤3 days in 90% of cases) for both groups. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING Australia-wide hospital-based and community-based specialist palliative care (1 January 2010 to 30 June 2015). PARTICIPANTS 139 556 (1502 Indigenous and 138 054 non-Indigenous) adult patients. OUTCOME MEASURES Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients were compared on (1) the risk of a phase being categorised as unstable, (2) the duration of unstable phases, and (3) the risk of unstable phases being prolonged (>3 days). Crude and adjusted estimates were produced from three-level robust Poisson regression and complementary log-log discrete time survival models. RESULTS Unstable phases occurred with similar frequency overall among Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients (adjusted relative risks 1.06; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.11; not significant after correction for multiple comparisons). The duration and risk of prolongation of unstable phases were similar in both patient groups, with no significant differences evident among subgroups. The benchmark was not met for either Indigenous or non-Indigenous patients (unstable phase duration >3 days in 24.3% vs 25.5%; p=0.398). CONCLUSIONS Despite well-documented shortcomings of healthcare for Indigenous Australians, there is no clear evidence of greater occurrence or prolongation of unanticipated problems among Indigenous patients accessing specialist palliative care services in hospital or the community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John A Woods
- Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Judith M Katzenellenbogen
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kevin Murray
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Claire E Johnson
- The Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sandra C Thompson
- Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Australian Experiences of Out-of-Pocket Costs and Financial Burden Following a Cancer Diagnosis: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18052422. [PMID: 33801282 PMCID: PMC7967550 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: This systematic review was conducted to identify cancer patient experiences, and the impact of out-of-pocket costs and financial burden in Australia. (2) Methods: A systematic review, following the Preferring Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, was conducted. Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PubMed were searched. The primary outcome was financial burden among cancer patients and their families in Australia. The secondary outcome was out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer care and treatment within the population sample, and the impact of financial burden. (3) Results: Nineteen studies were included, covering more than 70,000 Australians affected by cancer. Out-of-pocket costs varied by cancer type and ranged from an average of AUD 977 for breast cancer and lymphoedema patients to AUD 11,077 for prostate cancer patients. Younger aged patients (≤65 years), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people in rural and/or remote areas, households with low income, those who were unemployed and people with private health insurance were at increased risk of experiencing out-of-pocket costs, financial burden or a combination of both. (4) Conclusions: Australians diagnosed with cancer frequently experience financial burden, and the health and financial consequences are significant. Focusing efforts on the costs of care and options about where to have care within the context of informed decisions about cancer care is necessary.
Collapse
|