Análisis de los costes de diagnóstico y tratamiento de los sarcomas de partes blandas en centros de referencia / Cost analysis of the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in reference centres

Objetivo. Conocer los costes diagnósticos y terapéuticos en pacientes derivados a un centro de referencia ante la sospecha de un sarcoma de partes blandas. Material y métodos. Cohorte histórica de 48 pacientes consecutivos diagnosticados y tratados en nuestros centros, tanto previo a la realización de la biopsia como posteriormente a ella, entre los años 2009 y 2011 con el diagnóstico de sarcoma de partes blandas. Los costes por procedimiento son extraídos de la orden de precios públicos del año 2009. Se realizó un estudio comparativo de los datos mediante la prueba de U de Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon. Resultados. El coste medio por paciente fue de 14.427,58 €. En los derivados previo a la biopsia el coste global medio fue de 11.818,67 € y en los derivados posteriormente fue de 16.456,74 € (p=0,0073). No existen diferencias significativas en el coste diagnóstico entre ambos grupos. Sin embargo, el coste del tratamiento medio por paciente fue mayor en el grupo B (p=0,0121). Discusión. La derivación a los centros de referencias con equipos multidisciplinares expertos en esta afección es un hecho común resaltado en muchos artículos en los que además se demuestra el ahorro económico que esto supone. Conclusiones. En este estudio podemos ver que además de la mejoría en el aspecto asistencial para el paciente cuando se deriva a un centro especializado previo a la biopsia existe un menor coste sanitario (AU)

Objective. To determine the diagnostic and treatment costs in patients referred to a reference centre with a suspected soft tissue sarcoma. Material and methods. The study consisted of a historic cohort of 48 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas and treated in our centres between the years 2009 and 2011, both prior to and after performing the biopsy. The cost per procedure was taken from the official list of prices published in the year 2009. A comparative study of the data was performed using the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests. Results. The mean cost per patient was 14,427.58€. In those referred before the biopsy, the overall mean cost was 11,818.67€, and in those referred afterwards, it was 6,456.74€ (p=.0073). There were no significant differences in the diagnostic costs between the groups. However, the mean cosy of the treatment per patient was higher in the second group (p=.0121). Discussion. The referral to centres with experienced multidisciplinary teams in this disease is a common fact highlighted in many articles, where the financial savings have also been demonstrated. Conclusions. This study shows that, as well as improving the care aspect of the patients when they are referred to a specialist centre prior to the biopsy, there is also a lower health care cost (AU)

[Cost analysis of the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in reference centres]. / Análisis de los costes de diagnóstico y tratamiento de los sarcomas de partes blandas en centros de referencia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic and treatment costs in patients referred to a reference centre with a suspected soft tissue sarcoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study consisted of a historic cohort of 48 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas and treated in our centres between the years 2009 and 2011, both prior to and after performing the biopsy. The cost per procedure was taken from the official list of prices published in the year 2009. A comparative study of the data was performed using the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: The mean cost per patient was 14,427.58€. In those referred before the biopsy, the overall mean cost was 11,818.67€, and in those referred afterwards, it was 6,456.74€ (p=.0073). There were no significant differences in the diagnostic costs between the groups. However, the mean cosy of the treatment per patient was higher in the second group (p=.0121). DISCUSSION: The referral to centres with experienced multidisciplinary teams in this disease is a common fact highlighted in many articles, where the financial savings have also been demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, as well as improving the care aspect of the patients when they are referred to a specialist centre prior to the biopsy, there is also a lower health care cost.