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Review
. 2018 Jun;2(2):125-139.
doi: 10.1007/s41669-017-0045-0.

The Economic Burden of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Ashley Enstone  1 , Maire Greaney  2 , Manca Povsic  2 , Robin Wyn  2 , John R Penrod  3 , Yong Yuan  3
Affiliations
Review

The Economic Burden of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Ashley Enstone et al. Pharmacoecon Open. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the most aggressive form of lung carcinoma, represents approximately 15% of all lung cancers; however, the economic and healthcare burden of SCLC is not well-defined.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of SCLC on healthcare costs through a systematic literature review (SLR).

Methods: Using the OVID search engine, the SLR was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE In-Process, EMBASE, EconLIT and the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED). Searches were limited to studies published between January 2005 and 24 February 2016, and excluded preclinical studies. Additional internet-based searches were conducted. In total, 229 abstracts were retrieved and systematically screened for eligibility, with 17 publications retained.

Results: The majority of publications provided data on limited and extensive disease of SCLC. The reported burden was categorised as direct costs and indirect costs, with the majority of the publications (n = 16) reporting on direct costs and one reporting on both direct and indirect costs. The only indirect costs reported for SCLC were lost productivity (premature mortality costs) and caregiver burden. Chemotherapy, diagnostic costs and treatment costs were identified as significant costs when managing SCLC patients, including the associated treatment costs such as hospitalisation, nurse visits, emergency room visits, follow-up appointments and outpatient care.

Conclusions: SCLC and its treatment have a substantial impact on costs. The scarcity and heterogeneity of economic cost data negated meaningful cost comparison, highlighting the need for further research. Capturing the economic burden of SCLC may help patients and clinicians make informed treatment choices and improve SCLC management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable. All data used in this SLR are derived from published studies and are thus already available.

Funding

Financial support for this research was provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS).

Conflict of Interest

Penrod J. and Yuan Y. are employees of BMS. Enstone A., Greaney M., Povsic M., Wyn R.are employees of Adelphi Values, who received a consulting fee from BMS to undertake this work. The authors have no other conflicts of interest. Preliminary results of this SLR have been presented as a poster at the ISPOR 19th Annual European Congress, Vienna, Austria, 29 October–2 November 2016. Enstone A., Greaney M., Povsic M., Wyn R., Penrod J.R. and Yuan Y. acknowledge that they contributed to all of the following aspects of the work: conception and planning of the work that led to the manuscript or acquisition, analysis and interpretation of the data, or both; drafting and/or critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; and approval of the final submitted version of the manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow chart of the included and excluded publications. PRISMA Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
PRISMA graph of the included publications, grouped by type of publication. PRISMA Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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