Cost of upper tract imaging obtained during hematuria evaluation: Analysis of a national claims database.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the actual cost of hematuria evaluation using nationally representative claims data, given that the workup for hematuria burdens the healthcare system with significant associated costs. We hypothesized that evaluation with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) confers more cost to hematuria evaluation than renal ultrasound (US). METHODS: Using a national, privately insured database (MarketScan), we identified all individuals with an incident diagnosis of hematuria. We included patients who underwent cystoscopy and upper tract imaging within 3 months of diagnosis. We tabulated the costs of the imaging study as well as the total healthcare cost per patient. A multivariable model was developed to evaluate patient factors associated with total healthcare costs. RESULTS: We identified 318,680 patients with hematuria who underwent evaluation. Median costs associated with upper tract imaging were $362 overall, $504 for CT with contrast, $163 for US, $680 for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), $283 for CT without contrast, and $294 for retrograde pyelogram. Median cystoscopy cost was $283. Total healthcare costs per patient were highest when utilizing MRI and CT imaging. When adjusted for comorbidities, the use of any imaging other than ultrasound was associated with higher costs. CONCLUSIONS: In this nationally representative analysis, hematuria evaluation confers a significant cost burden, while the primary factor associated with higher costs of screening was imaging type. Based upon reduced cost of US-based strategies, further investigation should delineate its cost-effectiveness in the diagnosis of urological disease.

Association of Surgical Approach and Urinary Diversion in Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer With Costs and Readmission: Results From a Large Private Health Insurance Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to assess the comparative hospital outcomes and costs among a population-based cohort of bladder cancer patients by surgical approach and diversion. METHODS: From a privately insured national database, we identified all bladder cancer patients who underwent open or robotic radical cystectomy and ileal conduit or neobladder from 2010 to 2015. The primary outcomes were length of stay, readmissions, and total health care costs at 90 days from surgery. We used multivariable logistic regression and generalized estimating equations to assess for 90-day readmission and health care costs, respectively. RESULTS: Most patients underwent open radical cystectomy with ileal conduit (56.7%; n = 1,680) followed by open radical cystectomy with neobladder (22.7%; n = 672), robotic radical cystectomy with ileal conduit (17.4%; n = 516), and robotic radical cystectomy with neobladder (3.1%; n = 93). On multivariable analysis, patients had higher odds of 90-day readmissions for open radical cystectomy and neobladder (OR: 1.36; P = .002) and robotic radical cystectomy with neobladder (OR 1.60; P = .03) relative to open radical cystectomy with ileal conduit. After adjusting for patient covariates, we also found lower adjusted total 90-day health care costs for open radical cystectomy with ileal conduit ($67,915) and open radical cystectomy with neobladder ($67,371) compared to robotic radical cystectomy with ileal conduit ($70,677) and neobladder ($70,818; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, neobladder diversion was associated with higher odds of 90-day readmission, while robotic surgery increased total 90-day health care costs.

Contribution of bladder cancer pathology assessment in planning clinical trials.

Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease that demonstrates a wide spectrum of histologic features. The modern classification of bladder cancer is largely based on pathologic analysis, which assesses tumor grade, stage, type, size, and other features that are essential for understanding the biological behavior of bladder cancer. Bladder cancers with similar histologic features are likely to show comparable responses to a new therapeutic agent in clinical trial. Furthermore, pathologic analysis also evaluates the quality of tissue samples in clinical trial to ensure the integrity of various molecular tests. In spite of the emerging role of genomic and molecular studies, pathology remains the cornerstone in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of bladder cancer. Herein, the pathologic considerations for bladder cancer clinical trial planning are reviewed.

Disease and Treatment Characteristics of Men Diagnosed With Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer in Real Life: Analysis From a Commercial Claims Database.

BACKGROUND: Our understanding of the clinical characteristics and treatment patterns of men who present with newly diagnosed metastatic (M1) hormone-sensitive prostate cancer is based mainly on clinical trial data. We sought to characterize the M1 population seen in routine clinical practice using a commercial claims database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A US claims (2000-2013) database was used to identify patients with an index diagnosis of prostate cancer. M1 patients were identified by "International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification" diagnosis codes of metastasis to bone, viscera, distant lymph node, and unspecified sites within 90 days of the prostate cancer diagnosis. Progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer was identified by exposure to ≥ 1 drugs approved for castration-resistant prostate cancer, including docetaxel, abiraterone acetate, cabazitaxel, enzalutamide, sipuleucel-T, mitoxantrone, estramustine, and radium-223. RESULTS: Among 326,907 patients with an index prostate cancer diagnosis, 9199 (2.8%) had M1 disease, including 6955 with specified metastatic disease involving the bone (77%), viscera (38%), or lymph nodes (21%). The initial treatment of M1 disease was castration in 51%, localized therapy in 16%, prostate cancer drug only in 18%, and no treatment in 15%. The median time to first castration was 33 days. CONCLUSION: The proportion of men with prostate cancer who presented with M1 disease was consistent with other observations. Only 51% of the patients were treated according to national guidelines recommending medical or surgical castration. The proportion with visceral involvement at presentation was greater than expected from the clinical trials data in the same population. Just as seen in other medical conditions, clinical trial data are not representative of real-life patients seen in routine clinical practice.