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. 2018 Jan:106:38-44.
doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.09.022. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Estimating health benefits and cost-savings for achieving the Healthy People 2020 objective of reducing invasive colorectal cancer

Mei-Chuan Hung  1 , Donatus U Ekwueme  2 , Arica White  1 , Sun Hee Rim  1 , Jessica B King  1 , Jung-Der Wang  3 , Su-Hsin Chang  4
Affiliations

Estimating health benefits and cost-savings for achieving the Healthy People 2020 objective of reducing invasive colorectal cancer

Mei-Chuan Hung et al. Prev Med. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

This study aims to quantify the aggregate potential life-years (LYs) saved and healthcare cost-savings if the Healthy People 2020 objective were met to reduce invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence by 15%. We identified patients (n=886,380) diagnosed with invasive CRC between 2001 and 2011 from a nationally representative cancer dataset. We stratified these patients by sex, race/ethnicity, and age. Using these data and data from the 2001-2011 U.S. life tables, we estimated a survival function for each CRC group and the corresponding reference group and computed per-person LYs saved. We estimated per-person annual healthcare cost-savings using the 2008-2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We calculated aggregate LYs saved and cost-savings by multiplying the reduced number of CRC patients by the per-person LYs saved and lifetime healthcare cost-savings, respectively. We estimated an aggregate of 84,569 and 64,924 LYs saved for men and women, respectively, accounting for healthcare cost-savings of $329.3 and $294.2 million (in 2013$), respectively. Per person, we estimated 6.3 potential LYs saved related to those who developed CRC for both men and women, and healthcare cost-savings of $24,000 for men and $28,000 for women. Non-Hispanic whites and those aged 60-64 had the highest aggregate potential LYs saved and cost-savings. Achieving the HP2020 objective of reducing invasive CRC incidence by 15% by year 2020 would potentially save nearly 150,000 life-years and $624 million on healthcare costs.

Keywords: Healthy People 2020; Invasive colorectal cancer; Life years (LYs); Lifetime healthcare costs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest/financial disclosures

The authors disclose no conflict of interest. The authors reported no financial disclosures.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A graphical illustration of per-person potential life years saved. Dashed curve: survival function for a colorectal cancer (CRC) patient cohort. Solid curve: survival function for the corresponding reference group. Shaded area: the difference in life expectancies between a CRC group and the corresponding reference group.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A graphical illustration of per-person lifetime healthcare cost-savings. Dotted curve: smoothed function of healthcare cost associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) in present value. Dashed curve: survival function for a CRC group. Solid curve: expected cost in present value. Shaded area: per-person lifetime health care cost savings.
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