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Indirect costs associated with metastatic breast cancer.

74 Background: To estimate indirect costs (sick leave [SL]/short-term disability [STDI]) associated with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) compared to early stage breast cancer (EBC)/a general population without cancer (controls).


METHODS
The MarketScan Health and Productivity Management database (2005-2009) was used. Adult BC patients eligible for employee benefits of sick leave and/or STDI were identified. Difference in SL and STDI days was calculated between MBC patients and their propensity score matched EBC cohort or controls during a 12-month follow-up period. Indirect costs due to SL/ STDI were estimated by multiplying leave days with daily wages (2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics). Generalized linear model was used to examine the impact of MBC on indirect costs and potential cost drivers.


RESULTS
A total of 139 MBC/432 EBC/820 controls and 432 MBC/1,552 EBC/4,682 controls were eligible for SL and STDI respectively (not mutually exclusive), with a mean age of 49/51/50 years. After matching by age, payer type, region, index year and comorbidities, no difference was found in SL days between MBC and EBC cohorts. MBC patients had more STDI days and related cost than EBC patients and controls, with higher total indirect costs (SL + STDI). MBC patients also had more SL days/cost than controls (Table). Controlling for covariates, MBC patients incurred 47% more STDI cost vs. EBC patients (p=.009). Older patients (p=.002), non-HMO payers (p<.05), or patients not receiving chemotherapy during follow-up (p<.001) were associated with lower STDI cost. MBC patients also incurred 56% (p=.01) more SL cost and 11.6 times (p<.001) more STDI cost than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Productivity loss and associated costs in MBC patients are substantially higher than EBC patients or general population. These findings underscore the economic burden of MBC from US societal perspective. [Table: see text].