Study findings show the implementation of clinical care pathways resulted in improved survival for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Italy (JCO Oncol Pract. 2021 Apr 7;OP2000863. doi:10.1200/OP.20.00863).
This study analyzed the impact of the implementation of a regional diagnostic and therapeutic pathway on the management costs and survival of NSCLC.
A total of 254 cases of NSCLC in 2015 and 228 cases in 2017 reported in Italy were considered in this analysis. Tobit regression analysis was used to verify total and each item costs associated with each index year. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate overall mortality at 2 years.
The 2017 cohort has a lower mortality odd (odds ratio, .93; P = .02) and a significant increase in overall costs (P = .009) compared with the 2015 cohort. Tobit regression analysis by cost item demonstrated a significant increase in the average cost of drugs for the 2017 cohort (P = .008) vs the 2015 cohort, as well as a decrease in the average cost of hospice care (P = .022).
“Our study showed a survival improvement for patients with NSCLC as well as an economic burden growth,” wrote Alessandra Buja, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiologic, Vascular and Thoracic Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy, and colleagues.
“Physicians should therefore be encouraged to follow new clinical care pathways, while the steadily rising related costs underscore the need for policymakers and health professionals to pursue,” they concluded.—Janelle Bradley
