The burden of ovarian cancer in the USA from 2007 to 2018: evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

ABSTRACT

Aim: To evaluate the economic and humanistic burden of ovarian cancer in the USA. Methods: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2007-2018) were used to estimate all-cause healthcare resource use and costs for economic burden and examine the activities of daily living and quality-of-life (QoL) measures for humanistic burden between ovarian cancer patients and a non-cancer population. Results: Compared with controls, patients with ovarian cancer had more comorbidities and worse QoL. Their predicted number of annual hospitalizations and office-based visits was significantly higher, as were their estimated annual all-cause total healthcare costs. Total costs were driven by hospitalization costs. Conclusion: The study identified the burden of ovarian cancer and demonstrated that patients with ovarian cancer have greater healthcare resource use, higher costs and worse QoL than the non-cancer population. Future research is needed to develop strategies for managing ovarian cancers and inform decision-making to reduce disease burden.

What is this article about? The article discusses the impact that ovarian cancer has, both in terms of economics and quality of life. We used data from 2007 to 2018 to identify women with ovarian cancer as well as women without cancer for the sake of comparison. What were the results? We found that individuals with ovarian cancer face considerable burdens, and their treatment costs have a notable impact on healthcare systems. Compared with women without cancer, women with ovarian cancer are older and have a greater number of additional illnesses, and their quality of life is lower. Their use of healthcare resources is greater and hence the costs associated with their treatment are higher. What do the results of the study mean? This study adds to the existing data about the burden imposed by ovarian cancer, on individuals as well as on healthcare systems. Interventions are needed to reduce the impacts of the disease.