Pancreatic cancer: Total costs and utilization of health services

Background and Objectives: Pancreatic cancer ranks 11th in incidence, and f ifth in cancer deaths, with 29,000 affected annually. Accurate estimates of the cost of pancreatic cancer are unavailable; existing estimates are vari able or not generalizable. This paper presents detailed cost esti mates for pancreatic cancer by service, age, and gender. Methods: Direct and indirect societal costs are determined using a prevalen ce-based, human capital approach. Results: Total annual costs are $4.9 billion, (men: $3.0 billion, women: $1 .9 billion). Total direct costs are $881 million, with 71% ($627.1 M/$881.3 M) for those over 65 years. Total hospital costs are 77% ($679.5 M/$881.3 M) of total direct costs. Total indirect costs are $4.0 billion, with 63% ( $2,518.43 M/$4,018 M) for those 45 to 64 years. Mortality costs are $3.7 bi llion, 93% ($3,739 M/$4,018 M) of indirect costs. Conclusions: This paper presents cost estimates that are precise and genera lizable to the general population. The surgical cost burden may be less tha n indicated previously, with most hospitalizations not including a major pr ocedure, and average operating room costs accounting for only 9% ($1,045/$1 1,055) of hospital costs. Women have significantly less cancer-directed sur gery than men. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.