Health-related Quality of life, Financial Toxicity, Productivity Loss and Catastrophic Health Expenditures After Lung Cancer Diagnosis in Argentina

Abstract

Purpose: About 12,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer (LC)each year in Argentina, and the diagnosis has a significant impact on the whole family. The objective of this study was to characterize the health-related Quality of life (HRQoL) and the economic impact in patients with LC and in their households. Methods: We undertook an observational cross-sectional study. Outcomes included the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L (health-related Quality of life), COST (financial toxicity), WPAI-GH (productivity loss), and out-of-pocket expenses in adults diagnosed with LC at two referral public health care centers In Argentina. Results: We included 101 consecutive patients (mean age 67.5 years; 55.4% men; 57.4% with advanced disease -stage III/IV-). The mean EQ-VAS was 68.8 (SD:18.3), with 82.2% describing fair or poor health. The most affected dimensions were anxiety/depression, pain, and activities of daily living. Patients reported an average 59% decrease in their ability to perform regular daily activities as measured by WPAI-GH. Around 54.5% decreased income due to the disease, with 19.8% of patients reporting losing their jobs. The economic productivity loss was estimated at USD 2,465 person/year. About 70.3% of patients reported some degree of financial toxicity. The average out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure was USD 100.38 person/month and represented 18.5% of household income, and the catastrophic expenditure was present in 37.1% of households. All outcomes were worse in patients with advanced disease. Conclusions Patients with NSCLCtreated in public hospitals in Argentina have significant health-related quality of life and economic impact, worsening in patients with advanced disease.

Financial Toxicity and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Cancer Patients: A Correlational Study

“…Similarly, a study (25) that investigated financial toxicity in 539 patients with renal cell carcinoma from 14 different countries obtained a financial toxicity score of 21.5. Likewise, a study conducted in Canada (26) with patients with advanced lung cancer obtained a mean score of 21, while a 2022 Argentinian study (27) with patients with lung cancer obtained a mean score of 20 (mild impact of financial toxicity).…”