Cost-utility estimations of palliative care in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: We earlier reported cost-utility estimates in patients who undergo resection aimed at cure for pancreatic carcinoma. The present study describes similar information on patients with unresectable tumors who experienced palliative care only. METHODS: A population-based cohort of patients with exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma during 1998-2005 was evaluated retrospectively (n = 444). Total direct health care costs at departments of surgery and oncology, for primary health care, and at hospice were achieved. Self-estimated health-related quality of life (HRQL) was assessed by the SF-36. A single preference-based utility index, SF-6D, was derived from SF-36 items to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Results were compared to similar findings in a previously reported group of patients with pancreatic carcinoma resected for cure (n = 31). RESULTS: Palliative care patients (n = 305) had impaired HRQL particularly related to physical domains. The mean preference-based health utility index at diagnosis was 0.65 ± 0.02 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.61-0.69] compared to 0.77 ± 0.02 (95 % CI 0.75-0.79) in healthy reference individuals. Total direct health care costs were 50 % in patients on palliative care compared to costs for surgical R0 resections (23,701 and 50,950, respectively). QALYs for 1 year from diagnosis were 0.2 (95 % CI 0.17-0.23) in patients on palliative care and 0.48 (95 % CI 0.44-0.54) in resection patients. Costs per QALY were 118,418 and 106,146, respectively (95 % CI 103,048-139,418 and 94,352-115,795). CONCLUSIONS: Optimized palliative care of patients with exocrine pancreatic carcinoma had costs per achieved utility similar to those for surgical resections aimed at cure.