Cost profiles of colorectal cancer patients in Italy based on individual patterns of care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Due to changes in cancer-related risk factors, improvements in diagnostic procedures and treatments, and the aging of the population, in most developed countries cancer accounts for an increasing proportion of health care expenditures. The analysis of cancer-related costs is a topic of several economic and epidemiological studies and represents a research area of great interest to public health planners and policy makers. In Italy studies are limited either to some specific types of expenditures or to specific groups of cancer patients. Aim of the paper is to estimate the distribution of cancer survivors and associated health care expenditures according to a disease pathway which identifies three clinically relevant phases: initial (one year following diagnosis), continu

SUBMITTER: Francisci S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3706387 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature