Projections of the economic burden of care for individuals with dementia in mainland China from 2010 to 2050.

BACKGROUND: China has stepped into an era of aging society, where the impending considerable economic burden attributed to high prevalence of dementia in the elderly appears to be one of the most important health and social issues to deal with for the country. However, population-based quantification and projections for the economic burden of dementia in China are lacking for further health action and policy making. OBJECTIVE: To estimate and predict the costs of managing dementia in the elderly population aged 60 and above from 2010 to 2050 in China. METHODS: Data were collected from a six-province study (n = 7072) and other multiple sources for calculation of the economic burden of dementia. With the convincing data from published studies, we quantified and projected the costs attributed to dementia in China from 2010 to 2050. RESULTS: The national cost of dementia in 2010 was estimated to be US$22.8 billion by the opportunity cost method and US$26.4 billion by the proxy method. In 2050, the costs would increase to US$372.3 billion by the opportunity cost method and US$430.6 billion by the proxy method, consuming 0.53% and 0.61% of China's total GDP, respectively. A series of sensitivity analyses showed that the changes in the proportions of informal caregiving led to the most robust changes in the total burden of care for dementia in China. CONCLUSION: Dementia represents an enormous burden on China's population health and economy. Due to the changes in policies and population structure, policymakers should give priority to dementia care.

Economic analysis of a pediatric neurosurgery telemedicine clinic.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' objective was to compare the actual cost of a regional pediatric neurosurgery telemedicine clinic (PNTMC) with the estimated cost of a traditional physician-staffed outreach clinic. METHODS: The authors' PNTMC was a partnership between the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville and Georgia Children's Medical Services to service the population of Georgia's Southeast Health District. Neurosurgeons based in Jacksonville conducted telemedicine visits with patients located at a remote site in Georgia with the assistance of nursing personnel from Children's Medical Services. The authors determined the actual annual per-patient costs at the Jacksonville and Georgia sites for fiscal years 2018 (FY18) and 2019 (FY19) and estimated the cost of providing traditional physician-staffed outreach clinics. RESULTS: During FY18 and FY19, the neurosurgery team conducted an average of 24.5 telemedicine patient encounters per year at a cost of $369 per patient visit. The per-patient cost was 32.5% less than the estimated per-patient cost of $547 at a traditional outreach clinic. CONCLUSIONS: The authors provided neurosurgical telehealth visits to appropriate patients, with a substantial cost savings per patient visit compared with traditional physician-staffed outreach clinics.

Health Care Utilization and Costs Associated With Systemic First-Line Metastatic Melanoma Therapies in the United States.

PURPOSE: US Food and Drug Administration approvals of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies revolutionized the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Our aim was to assess health care resource utilization and costs for patients with metastatic melanoma treated with systemic therapies in first line between January 2012 and December 2017. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with metastatic melanoma using MarketScan data. We included patients diagnosed with melanoma and secondary malignant neoplasm who used pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab, ipilimumab plus nivolumab, BRAF-inhibitor (BRAF-i) plus MEK inhibitor (MEK-i), BRAF-i or MEK-i monotherapy, or chemotherapy in first line. We compared health care utilization and costs per patient per month (PPPM) using two-part and generalized linear models. RESULTS: We identified 1,870 patients, including 185 pembrolizumab, 103 nivolumab, 689 ipilimumab, 185 nivolumab plus ipilimumab, 214 BRAF-i plus MEK-i, 240 BRAF-i or MEK-i monotherapy, and 254 chemotherapy users. Highest PPPM rates of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits were observed in patients with ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy (adjusted difference v pembrolizumab [aDiff], 0.18, 0.12, and 0.88, respectively; all P < .001). Ipilimumab monotherapy users (aDiff, 0.07 and 0.93; all P < .001) and chemotherapy users (aDiff, 0.10 and 2.63; all P < .001) showed higher PPPM rates of hospitalizations and outpatient visits compared with pembrolizumab users, respectively. Utilization rates in nivolumab, BRAF-i plus MEK-i, and BRAF-i or MEK-i groups were similar to the pembrolizumab group. Highest PPPM total costs and drug-related costs were observed in the ipilimumab group ($80,139 US dollars [USD] and $70,051 USD; all P < .001), followed by the ipilimumab plus nivolumab ($71,689 USD and $56,217 USD; all P < .001) and the BRAF-i plus MEK-i group ($31,184 USD and $19,648 USD; all P < .001). PPPM costs in the nivolumab group were similar to the pembrolizumab group. CONCLUSION: Significant differences in health care resource utilization and costs were found across first-line metastatic melanoma regimens. Utilization rates were highest in patients using ipilimumab-containing therapies. High drug costs constituted a major fraction of total PPPM health care costs.

Comparing the downstream costs and healthcare utilization associated with the use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in lung cancer screening in patients with and without alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the downstream costs and healthcare utilization associated with using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer screening in patients with and without Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). METHODS: Based on data from IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims Databases (2014-2018), we have identified four study cohorts: ADRD and non-ADRD patients who went through LDCT screening; ADRD and non-ADRD patients without LDCT screening. Annually healthcare utilization and cost were grouped into outpatient, inpatient, and pharmacy. We used difference-in-differences (DID) models to estimate the downstream healthcare utilization and cost associated with LDCT screening in both ADRD and non-ADRD population. We used a difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) model to explore whether LDCT screening was associated with higher downstream cost and healthcare utilization in ADRD population than non-ADRD population. RESULT: Compared to individuals without LDCT screening, LDCT screening was associated with increased outpatient visits (2.1, 95% CI 0.7, 3.4) and outpatient cost ($2301.0, 95% CI 296.2, 4305.8) in the ADRD population and increased outpatient visits (0.6, 95% CI 0.1, 1.1) in the non-ADRD population within 1 year after screening. Compared with the non-ADRD population, LDCT screening was found to be associated with an additional 1.5 (95% CI 0.2, 2.8) outpatient visits, 0.7 (95% CI 0.1, 1.3) days of inpatient stays, and $4,960.4 (95% CI 532.7, 9388.0) in overall healthcare costs within 1-year after LDCT in the ADRD population (all p < .5). CONCLUSION: The downstream cost and healthcare utilization associated with LDCT screening were found to be higher in the ADRD population compared to the average population.

Cost evaluation of tobacco control interventions in clinical settings: A systematic review.

Elucidating the cost implications of tobacco control interventions is a prerequisite to their adoption in clinical settings. This review fills a knowledge gap in characterizing the extent to which cost is measured in tobacco control studies. A search of English literature was conducted in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EconLit, PsychINFO, and CINAHL using MeSH terms from 2009 to 2018. Studies were reviewed by two independent reviewers and included if they were conducted in U.S. inpatient or outpatient facilities and reported costs associated with a tobacco control intervention. They were categorized according to evaluation type, clinical setting, target population, cost measures, and stakeholder perspective. Bias risk was evaluated for RCTs. Seventeen publications were included, representing counseling interventions (n = 8) and combination (i.e., counseling and pharmacotherapy) interventions (n = 9). Studies were categorized by evaluation type: cost-effectiveness analysis (n = 10), cost utility analysis (n = 3) and cost identification (n = 4). The selected studies targeted the following populations: general adults (n = 6), hospitalized/inpatient (n = 4), military/veterans (n = 4), individuals with low socioeconomic status (n = 4), mental health or medical comorbidities (n = 2), and pregnant women (n = 2). Intervention costs included personnel, medication, education material, technology, and overhead costs. Stakeholder perspectives included: healthcare organization (n = 10), payer (n = 8), patient (n = 2), and societal (n = 1). Few studies have reported the cost of tobacco control interventions in clinical settings. Cost is a critical outcome that should be consistently measured in evaluations of tobacco control interventions to promote their uptake in clinical settings.

Geographic variation in palliative care delivery among patients diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer in the USA: Medicare population-based study.

PURPOSE: The USA has observed a significant increase in the use of palliative care for patients diagnosed with advanced cancer. However, it is unknown how geographic variation affects patients' use of palliative care services. We examined temporal and demographic trends in receipt of and timing of palliative care by state and region. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Study sample included community-dwelling patients aged ≥ 65 years with metastatic lung cancer who were diagnosed between 2001 and 2015. Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate temporal trends in receipt of and timing of palliative care by states and census region. RESULTS: The proportion of metastatic lung cancer patients who received palliative care ranged from 16.4% in Washington and 16.3% in Connecticut to 6.4% in Louisiana. From 2001 to 2015, use of palliative care increased from 3.2 to 29.8% in the West region, from 3.3 to 31.9% in the Northeast region, from 3.8 to 36.2% in the Midwest region, and from 0.9 to 23.3% in the South region (all P < 0.001). The median time from the date of cancer diagnosis to the date of first palliative care visit varied geographically, from 44 days in Utah to 66 days in California. Hospital-based palliative care was most common in these states. CONCLUSION: The substantial geographic variation in the use of palliative care suggesting a need for additional research on geographic disparities in palliative care and strategies that might improve state-level palliative care delivery.

Factors associated with opioid prescriptions among women proximal to pregnancy in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are a vulnerable population exposed to opioids in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To examine trends and factors associated with opioid prescribing to women proximal to pregnancy. METHODS: The 2011 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was used to identify participants (n = 3020) with self-reported pregnancy or pregnancy-relevant events aged between 18 and 44 years old. To investigate factors associated with opioid prescriptions, we categorized participants into two subgroups: having one or more opioid prescription or having none during the observational period. We used survey multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with opioid prescribing accounting for the complex survey design in MEPS. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2015, the prevalence of opioid prescribing among study participants was 31%. Opioids were more likely to be prescribed to women who had psychiatric conditions (odds ratio, 1,76, 95%CI: 1.27-2.44, p < 0.001). Other significant factors included being non-Hispanic white or black, living in the South, active tobacco users, and those with lower Physical Component Summary Scores. CONCLUSION: Receipt of an opioid prescription in the perinatal period is associated with maternal psychiatric disorders in the United States. Study findings add new data to the literature on opioid use among pregnant women and provide evidence for healthcare providers and policy makers to tailor treatment and educational programs to avoid opioid overuse among pregnant women.

Association of Patient-Provider Teach-Back Communication with Diabetic Outcomes: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the patterns of patient teach-back experience (also known as "interactive communication loop") and determine its association with risk for diabetic complications and hospitalization, and health expenditures among individuals with diabetes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 2901 US adults aged 18 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes was conducted using data from the 2011 to 2016 Longitudinal Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Survey-design adjusted multivariable models were used to examine whether having patient teach-back experience at the baseline year (Year 1) is associated with development of diabetic complications, hospitalization, and health expenditure at follow-up year (Year 2). Health expenditures were adjusted for inflation and expressed in 2017 US dollars. All adjusted models included patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Analyses found that patients with teach-back experience were less likely to develop diabetic complications (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.52-0.96) and be admitted to the hospital due to diabetic complications (AOR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.88) at 1-year followup. Patients having teach-back experience also had a significantly smaller increase in total expenditures of $1920 compared with those not having teach-back of $3639 (a differential change of -$1579; 95% CI, -$1717 to -$1443; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Teach-back could be an effective communication strategy that has potential to improve health outcomes, resulting in savings in diabetes care.

Timing, Costs, and Survival Outcome of Specialty Palliative Care in Medicare Beneficiaries With Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: ASCO recommends early integration of palliative care in treating patients diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. Our study sought to examine utilization of timely specialty palliative care (SPC) and its association with survival and cost outcomes in patients diagnosed with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The 2001-2015 SEER-Medicare data were used to determine the baseline characteristics and outcomes of 79,253 patients with metastatic NSCLC. The predictors of early SPC use were examined using logistic regression. Mean and adjusted total and SPC-related costs were calculated using generalized linear regression. We used Cox regression model to determine the survival outcomes by SPC service settings. All statistical tests were two sided. RESULTS: The time from cancer diagnosis to the first SPC use has reduced significantly, from 13.7 weeks in 2001 to 8.3 weeks in 2015 (P < .001). SPC use was associated with lower health care costs compared with those who had no SPC, from -$3,180 in 2011 (P < .001) to -$1,285 in 2015 (P = .059). Outpatient SPC use was associated with improved survival compared with patients who received SPC in other settings (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.88; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC now have more timely SPC service utilization, which was demonstrated to be a cost-saving treatment. Strategies to improve outpatient palliative care use might be associated with longer survival in patients with metastatic NSCLC.

The health care cost of palliative care for cancer patients: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Several delivery models of palliative care are currently available: hospital-based, outpatient-based, home-based, nursing home-based, and hospice-based. Weighing the differences in costs of these delivery models helps to advise on the future direction of expanding palliative care services. The objective of this review is to identify and summarize the best available evidence in the US on cost associated with palliative care for patients diagnosed with cancer. METHODS: The systematic review was carried out of studies conducted in the US between 2008 and 2018, searching PubMed, Medline, the Cochrane library, CINAHL, EconLit, the Social Science Citation Index, Embase, and Science Citation Index, using the following terms: palliative, cancer, carcinoma, cost, and reimbursement. RESULTS: The initial search identified 748 articles, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. Eight studies (50%) were inpatient-based, four (25%) were combined outpatient/inpatient, two (12.5%) reported only on home-based palliative services, and two (12.5%) were in multiple settings. Most included studies showed that palliative care reduced the cost of health care by $1285-$20,719 for inpatient palliative care, $1000-$5198 for outpatient and inpatient combined, $4258 for home-based, and $117-$400 per day for home/hospice, combined outpatient/inpatient palliative care. CONCLUSION: Receiving palliative care after a cancer diagnosis was associated with lower costs for cancer patients, and remarkable differences exist in cost saving across different palliative care models.

Utilization of Antineoplastic Agents and Medicare Spending in Elderly Patients With Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer Between 2001 and 2013.

PURPOSE: Some elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) do not receive chemotherapy likely because of fear of toxicity and uncertainty regarding benefits. Thus, we aimed to study real-world trends in utilization of antineoplastics over the years and predictors of utilization, survival, and Medicare expenditure in elderly patients with extensive-stage (ES) SCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the linked SEER and Medicare database, we identified elderly patients with newly diagnosed ES-SCLC between 2001 and 2013. The Wald test was used to determine the significance of trends. Cox proportional hazards models were applied for survival analyses. We used SAS, version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). RESULTS: We identified 15,763 patients with newly diagnosed ES-SCLC. Approximately 6,838 patients (43.38%) received antineoplastics, and 8,925 patients (56.61%) received supportive care only. Every year since 2001, the percentage of patients receiving antineoplastics has decreased (45.8% v 36.6% in 2001 and 2013, respectively; Ptrend < .0001). Patients with advanced age (P < .001), patients from high-poverty areas (P < .001) or rural areas (P = .005), patients with Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 (P < .001), and non-Hispanic blacks (P = .003) and Hispanics (P = .001) were less likely to receive antineoplastics. Mean Medicare spending per patient decreased over the study period for patients treated with antineoplastics ($45,998 in 2001 and $35,053 in 2013; Ptrend < .001) and for those receiving supportive care only ($34,197 in 2001 and $25,265 in 2013; Ptrend < .001). CONCLUSION: Decreasing utilization of antineoplastics in elderly patients with ES-SCLC since 2001 could be partly secondary to higher comorbidities and physiologic age, leading to poor candidacy. Medicare expenditures decreased likely as a result of value-based treatment initiatives by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. However, expenditures are likely to increase with use of expensive novel agents.

Excess Costs and Economic Burden of Obesity-Related Cancers in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a significant risk factor of several cancers that imposes a substantial economic burden on US healthcare that remains to be quantified. We estimated the excess costs and economic burden of obesity-related cancers in the United States. METHODS: From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2008-2015) data, we identified 19 405 cancer survivors and 175 498 non-cancer individuals. We estimated annual health expenditures using generalized linear regression with log link and gamma distribution by cancer types (stratified by 11 obesity-related cancers and other cancer types), controlling for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. All cost estimates were adjusted to 2015 USD value. RESULTS: The average annual total health expenditures were $21 503 (95% CI, $20 946-$22 061) for those with obesity-related cancer and $13 120 (95% CI, $12 920-$13 319) for those with other cancer types. There was a positive association between body mass index and health expenditures among cancer survivors: for each additional 5-unit increase in body mass index, the average predicted expenditures increase by $1503 among those with obesity-related cancer and by $722 among those with other cancers. With adjustments for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the mean incremental expenditures of treating obesity-related cancer were 2.1 times higher than those of other cancers ($4492 vs $2139) and more considerable among the non-elderly cancer population. Obesity-related cancers accounted for nearly 43.5% of total direct cancer care expenditures, estimated at $35.9 billion in 2015. CONCLUSION: The economic burden of obesity-related cancer in the United States is substantial. Our findings suggest a need for the inclusion of comprehensive obesity prevention and treatment in cancer care.

Discerning Patterns and Quality of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Use Among Patients with Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is underutilized in bladder cancer patients who undergo radical cystectomy. However, the quality of regimens used in this setting remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine utilization treatment patterns and survival outcomes according to regimens administered. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database to identify patients diagnosed with clinical stage TII-IV bladder cancer from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2011. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Temporal trends were assessed using the Cochran-Armitage test. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors for neoadjuvant chemotherapy use. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare overall survival according to regimens administered. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of 2738 patients treated with radical cystectomy, 344 (12.6%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The agents most commonly used were gemcitabine (72.3%), cisplatin (55.2%), and carboplatin (31.1%). The regimens most commonly used were gemcitabine-cisplatin (45.3%), gemcitabine-carboplatin (24.1%), and methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (M-VAC; 6.7%). Use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy more than tripled during the study period, from 5.7% in 2001 to 17.3% in 2011 (p<0.001). The quality of the regimen administered impacted survival outcomes, as M-VAC use was significantly associated with better overall survival among patients diagnosed with stage II bladder cancer (hazard ratio 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.07-0.86; p=0.030]. Limitations include the limited ability of retrospective analysis to control for selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was underused, and the quality of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens administered for bladder cancer was inconsistent with guideline recommendations. These findings are important when interpreting population-based data on the use of chemotherapy and extrapolating survival outcomes. PATIENT SUMMARY: In a large population-based study, 12.6% of patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, half of whom received guideline-recommended regimens. The quality of the regimen impacted survival outcomes, as use of cisplatin-based chemotherapy was significantly associated with better overall survival among patients diagnosed with stage II bladder cancer. However, <1% of radical cystectomy patients received this regimen.

Financial burden of cancer care under the Affordable Care Act: Analysis of MEPS-Experiences with Cancer Survivorship 2011 and 2016.

PURPOSE: To examine whether the implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) reduced the financial burden associated with cancer care among non-elderly cancer survivors. METHODS: Using data from the MEPS-Experiences with Cancer Survivorship Survey, we examined whether there was a difference in financial burden associated with cancer care between 2011 (pre-ACA) and 2016 (post-ACA). Two aspects of financial burden were considered: (1) self-reported financial burden, whether having financial difficulties associated with cancer care and (2) high-burden spending, whether total out-of-pocket (OOP) spending incurred in excess of 10% or 20% of family income. Generalized linear regression models were estimated to adjust the OOP expenditures (reported in 2016 US dollar). RESULTS: Our sample included adults aged 18-64 with a confirmed diagnosis of any cancer in 2011 (n = 655) and in 2016 (n = 490). There was no apparent difference in the prevalence of cancer survivors reporting any financial hardship or being with high-burden spending between 2011 and 2016. The mean OOP decreased by $268 (95% CI, - 384 to - 152) after the ACA. However, we found that the mean premium payments increased by $421 (95% CI, 149 to 692) in the same period. CONCLUSIONS: The ACA was associated with reduced OOP for health services but increased premium contributions, resulting in no significant impact on perceived financial burden among non-elderly cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The financial hardship of cancer survivorship points to the need for the development of provisions that help cancer patients reduce both perceived and materialized burden of cancer care under ongoing health reform.

Comparative Effectiveness of Computed Tomography- Versus Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Among Medicare Patients 65 Years of Age or Older With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not eligible for surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a promising technique that reduces the risk of disease progression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the trend of image guidance for RFA is moving toward the more expensive computed tomography (CT) technology and to determine the clinical benefits of CT guidance over the ultrasound (US) guidance. METHODS: A cohort of 463 patients was identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results and Medicare-linked database. The temporal trends in use of image guidance were assessed using the Cochrane-Armitage test. The associations between modality of image guidance and survival, complications, and costs were assessed using the Cox regression model, the logistic regression model, and the generalized linear model, respectively. RESULTS: The use of CT-guided RFA increased sharply, from 20.7% in 2002 to 75.9% in 2011. Compared with CT-guided RFA, those who received US-guided RFA had comparable risk of periprocedural and delayed postprocedural complications. Stratified analyses by tumor size also showed no statistically significant difference. In adjusted survival analysis, no statistically significant difference was observed in overall and cancer-specific survival. Nevertheless, the cost of CT-guided RFA ($2847) was higher than that of US-guided RFA ($1862). CONCLUSIONS: Despite its rapid adoption over time, CT-guided RFA incurred higher procedural costs than US-guided RFA but did not significantly improve postprocedural complications and survival. Echoing the American Board of Internal Medicine's Choosing Wisely campaign and the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Value of Cancer Care initiative, findings from our study call for critical evaluation of whether CT-guided RFA provides high-value care for patients with HCC.

Utilization of pain medications and its effect on quality of life, health care utilization and associated costs in individuals with chronic back pain.

PURPOSE: Pain medications are widely prescribed to treat chronic back pain (CBP). However, the effect of using pain medications on individuals with CBP has received very little attention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of pharmacological treatment in the population with CBP and assess its impact on quality of life, health care utilization and associated costs in USA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional data obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), from 2011 to 2015, were utilized for this study. Pharmacological treatment for CBP was categorized into three mutually exclusive categories: 1) opioids only, 2) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) only, 3) opioids and NSAIDs (combination). The effect of the use of these treatments was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 5,203 individuals with CBP were identified. Of these, 2,568 (49.4%) utilized opioids only, 1,448 (27.8%) utilized NSAIDs only and 1,187 (22.8%) utilized both pain medications. Lower health-related quality-of-life scores on both the Short Form Health Survey-12 version 2 (SF-12v2) components (mental component summary score: 44.42 vs 46.67, P<0.001; physical component summary score: 35.34 vs 40.11, P<0.001) were observed for the opioid-only group compared to the NSAID-only group. In addition, individuals utilizing opioids only had greater utilization of inpatient services, office-based services, outpatient services and emergency room visits along with higher related health care costs. CONCLUSION: Future researchers need to investigate the long-term risks and benefits of opioids, and policy makers should evaluate the prescribing guidelines to aim for a more patient-centered care.

Complication Rates and Downstream Medical Costs Associated With Invasive Diagnostic Procedures for Lung Abnormalities in the Community Setting.

Importance: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services added lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) as a Medicare preventive service benefit in 2015 following findings from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) that showed a 16% reduction in lung cancer mortality associated with LDCT. A challenge in developing and promoting a national lung cancer screening program is the high false-positive rate of LDCT because abnormal findings from thoracic imaging often trigger subsequent invasive diagnostic procedures and could lead to postprocedural complications. Objective: To determine the complication rates and downstream medical costs associated with invasive diagnostic procedures performed for identification of lung abnormalities in the community setting. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study of non-protocol-driven community practices captured in MarketScan Commercial Claims & Encounters and Medicare supplemental databases was conducted. A nationally representative sample of 344 510 patients aged 55 to 77 years who underwent invasive diagnostic procedures between 2008 and 2013 was included. Main Outcomes and Measures: One-year complication rates were calculated for 4 groups of invasive diagnostic procedures. The complication rates and costs were further stratified by age group. Results: Of the 344 510 individuals aged 55 to 77 years included in the study, 174 702 comprised the study group (109 363 [62.6%] women) and 169 808 served as the control group (106 007 [62.4%] women). The estimated complication rate was 22.2% (95% CI, 21.7%-22.7%) for individuals in the young age group and 23.8% (95% CI, 23.0%-24.6%) for those in the Medicare group; the rates were approximately twice as high as those reported in the NLST (9.8% and 8.5%, respectively). The mean incremental complication costs were $6320 (95% CI, $5863-$6777) for minor complications to $56 845 (95% CI, $47 953-$65 737) for major complications. Conclusions and Relevance: The rates of complications after invasive diagnostic procedures were higher than the rates reported in clinical trials. Physicians and patients should be aware of the potential risks of subsequent adverse events and their high downstream costs in the shared decision-making process.

Comparing Survival Outcomes and Costs Associated With Radical Cystectomy and Trimodal Therapy for Older Adults With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Importance: Radical cystectomy is the guidelines-recommended treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, but a resurgence of trimodal therapy has occurred. Limited comparative data are available on outcomes and costs attributable to these 2 treatments. Objective: To compare the survival outcomes and costs between trimodal therapy and radical cystectomy in older adults with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database. A total of 3200 older adults (aged ≥66 years) with clinical stage T2 to T4a bladder cancer diagnosed from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2011, and with claims data available through December 31, 2013, were included in the analysis. Patients who received radical cystectomy underwent either only surgery or surgery in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Patients who received trimodal therapy underwent transurethral resection of the bladder followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Propensity score matching by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics was used. Data analysis was performed from August 1, 2017, to March 11, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: Overall survival and cancer-specific survival were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and the Fine and Gray competing risk model. All Medicare health care costs for inpatient, outpatient, and physician services within 30, 90, and 180 days of treatment were compared. The total amount spent nationwide was estimated, using 180-day medical costs between treatments, by the total number of new cases of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the United States in 2011. Results: Of the 3200 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 2048 (64.0%) were men and 1152 (36.0%) were women, with a mean (SD) age of 75.8 (6.0) years. After propensity score matching, 687 patients (21.5%) underwent trimodal therapy and 687 patients (21.5%) underwent radical cystectomy. Patients who underwent trimodal therapy had significantly decreased overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.31-1.69) and cancer-specific survival (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.32-1.83). No differences in costs at 30 days were observed between trimodal therapy ($15 233 in 2002 vs $18 743 in 2011) and radical cystectomy ($17 990 in 2002 vs $21 738 in 2011). However, median total costs were significantly higher with trimodal therapy than with radical cystectomy at 90 days ($80 174 vs $69 181; median difference, $8964; Hodges-Lehmann 95% CI, $3848-$14 079) and at 180 days ($179 891 vs $107 017; median difference, $63 771; Hodges-Lehmann 95% CI, $55 512-$72 029). Extrapolating these figures to the total US population revealed $335 million in excess spending for trimodal therapy compared with the less costly radical cystectomy ($492 million) for patients who received a muscle-invasive bladder cancer diagnosis in 2011. Conclusions and Relevance: Trimodal therapy was associated with significantly decreased overall survival and cancer-specific survival as well as $335 million in excess spending in 2011. These findings have important health policy implications regarding the appropriate use of high value-based care among older adults with invasive bladder cancer who are candidates for either radical cystectomy or trimodal therapy.