A Retrospective Claims Analysis of Advanced Prostate Cancer Costs and Resource Use

Background Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is associated with high costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU). Objective This study followed patients with CRPC through their continuum of care and analyzed claims data regarding treatments, total HCRU, and costs, both before and after metastasis diagnosis. Methods A retrospective cohort of patients with newly diagnosed metastatic CRPC (mCRPC) in the USA was identified from the Truven Health MarketScan database from January 2009 to March 2015. The mCRPC algorithm employed International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for prostate cancer (pre-index) and secondary metastatic disease (index date) and a subsequent claim for a US FDA-approved treatment for mCRPC. Patient inclusion required evidence of surgical or pharmacological castration and no evidence of bone-targeted treatments during the baseline period while evaluating continuous enrollment 25 months pre-index and 6 months post-index. Treatment patterns were assessed during pre- and post-index periods; HCRU and costs were annualized for comparison purposes regarding both pre- and post-index timeframes. Results Among 261 patients with mCRPC (mean age 72 years), the most common treatments during the pre-index period were bicalutamide (90.04%), leuprolide (81.99%), abiraterone (22.22%), docetaxel (20.69%), and ketoconazole (18.01%). Mean per-patient-per-year (PPPY) all-cause annualized healthcare costs significantly increased from $US35,102.55 in the pre-index nonmetastatic CRPC (nmCRPC) period to $US156,499.89 after metastasis diagnosis (mCRPC). Mean PPPY inpatient admissions and emergency department visits increased from 0.20 to 1.36 and from 0.63 to 1.56, respectively. Conclusions Average yearly costs and HCRU were four times higher following mCRPC diagnosis, indicating a need for appropriate management strategies to optimize the potential delay of disease progression among patients with nmCRPC.