Healthcare expenditures among community-dwelling adults with thyroid cancer in the United States: A propensity score matched analysis

Abstract

This study assessed the excess healthcare expenditures and factors associated with it among communitydwelling adults with thyroid cancer compared to non-cancer controls in the United States. Method: A retrospective, cross-sectional, matched case-control study design was used by pooling multiple years of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data (2002-2012). The eligible study sample comprised of adults (age !18 years), who were alive during the calendar year and reported positive healthcare expenditure. The case group consisted of adults with thyroid cancer only while the control group consisted of adults who did not have any form of cancer. Total and subtypes of mean annual healthcare expenditures comprised the main study outcome. We also calculated the total and subtypes of out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures as well as OOP as a percentage of household income. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regressions on log-transformed expenditures were conducted to elucidate the influence of different factors on healthcare expenditures among adults with thyroid cancer. Results: The yearly average total healthcare expenditures among adults with thyroid cancer was significantly higher compared to propensity score matched controls ($9,585 vs. $5,830, p < 0.001). Similar observations were found in terms of inpatient, and outpatient expenditures. Functional status as well as comorbid conditions were significantly associated with excess expenditures. The yearly average total OOP expenditure for adults with thyroid cancer was significantly higher compared to matched controls

The Cost and Financial Burden of Thyroid Cancer on Patients in the US

“…31 After matching, patients with thyroid cancer incurred higher yearly average total health care expenditures ($9585 vs $5830), as well as higher yearly average inpatient expenditures ($3126 vs $1460), outpatient expenditures ($4133 vs $1825), and out-of-pocket costs ($1425 vs $974). 31 A subsequent retrospective cohort study used claims data to elucidate the drivers of out-of-pocket costs for patients with thyroid cancer. Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for malignant disease experienced higher median total costs ($29 171 vs $17 335) and out-of-pocket costs ($3019 vs $2271) compared with patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for benign conditions.…”

“…A previous propensity score matched analysis of patients with thyroid cancer and adults without cancer found that patients with thyroid cancer were disproportionately women (70.9% vs 55.8%) and of higher income (52.1% vs 42.6%) compared with noncancer controls prior to propensity score matching . After matching, patients with thyroid cancer incurred higher yearly average total health care expenditures ($9585 vs $5830), as well as higher yearly average inpatient expenditures ($3126 vs $1460), outpatient expenditures ($4133 vs $1825), and out-of-pocket costs ($1425 vs $974) . A subsequent retrospective cohort study used claims data to elucidate the drivers of out-of-pocket costs for patients with thyroid cancer.…”

Financial toxicity in thyroid cancer survivors

“…Patients undergoing thyroidectomy for cancer had a higher median out of pocket cost at $3019 compared to $2271 for patients with benign disease [50 ▪▪ ]. In another retrospective, cross-sectional, matched case–control study using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), the yearly average total out of pocket expenditure for adults with thyroid cancer was $1425 vs. $974 in matched controls without cancer [51].…”

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Health Economic Review

“…An American study calculated the excess healthcare expenditures of the community-dwelling thyroid cancer patients compared to non-cancer controls in a propensity score-matched analysis [ 98 ]. The yearly average total healthcare expenditures among adults with thyroid cancer were significantly higher compared to propensity score-matched controls (£6896 vs £4194, p = <0.001).…”