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. 2019 May:5:1-8.
doi: 10.1200/JGO.19.00003.

Prospective Survey of Financial Toxicity Measured by the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity in Japanese Patients With Cancer

Kazunori Honda  1 , Bishal Gyawali  2 , Masashi Ando  1 , Ryosuke Kumanishi  1 , Kyoko Kato  1 , Keiji Sugiyama  1 , Seiichiro Mitani  1 , Toshiki Masuishi  1 , Yukiya Narita  1 , Hideaki Bando  1 , Hiroya Taniguchi  1 , Shigenori Kadowaki  1 , Takashi Ura  1 , Kei Muro  1
Affiliations

Prospective Survey of Financial Toxicity Measured by the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity in Japanese Patients With Cancer

Kazunori Honda et al. J Glob Oncol. 2019 May.

Abstract

Purpose: We previously reported on the pilot study assessing the feasibility of using the Japanese translation of the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool to measure financial toxicity (FT) among Japanese patients with cancer. In this study, we report the results of the prospective survey assessing FT in Japanese patients with cancer using the same tool.

Patients and methods: Eligible patients were receiving chemotherapy for a solid tumor for at least 2 months. In addition to the COST survey, socioeconomic characteristics were collected by using a questionnaire and medical records.

Results: Of the 191 patients approached, 156 (82%) responded to the questionnaire. Primary tumor sites were colorectal (n = 77; 49%), gastric (n = 39; 25%), esophageal (n = 16; 10%), thyroid (n = 9; 6%), head and neck (n = 4; 3%), and other (n = 11; 7%). Median COST score was 21 (range, 0 to 41; mean ± standard deviation, 12.1 ± 8.45), with lower COST scores indicating more severe FT. On multivariable analyses using linear regression, older age (β, 0.15 per year; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.28; P = .02) and higher household savings (β, 8.24 per ¥15 million; 95% CI, 4.06 to 12.42; P < .001) were positively associated with COST score; nonregular employment (β, -5.37; 95% CI, -10.16 to -0.57; P = .03), retirement because of cancer (β, -5.42; 95% CI, -8.62 to -1.37; P = .009), and use of strategies to cope with the cost of cancer care (β, -5.09; 95% CI, -7.87 to -2.30; P < .001) were negatively associated with COST score.

Conclusion: Using the Japanese version of the COST tool, we identified various factors associated with FT in Japanese patients with cancer. These findings will have important implications for cancer policy planning in Japan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or ascopubs.org/jgo/site/misc/authors.html.

Keiji Sugiyama

Honoraria: Chugai/Roche, Ono Pharmaceutical, Merck Serono

Seiichiro Mitani

Honoraria: Merck Serono, Eli Lilly

Toshiki Masuishi

Honoraria: Taiho Pharmaceutical, Merck Serono, Chugai Pharma, Yakult Honsha, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Bayer Yakuhin, Sanofi

Research Funding: Yakult Honsha

Yukiya Narita

Speakers’ Bureau: Chugai Pharma, Ono Pharmaceutical, Eli Lilly, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Research Funding: Ono Pharmaceutical, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Hideaki Bando

Research Funding: AstraZeneca, Sysmex

Hiroya Taniguchi

Honoraria: Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Chugai Pharma, Merck Serono, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly Japan, Yakult Honsha, Sanofi

Shigenori Kadowaki

Honoraria: Eli Lilly, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharma, Ono Pharmaceutical, Yakult, Merck Serono

Research Funding: Ono Pharmaceutical (Inst), Taiho Pharmaceutical (Inst), Boehringer Ingelheim (Inst), Bristol-Myers Squibb (Inst), Eli Lilly (Inst)

Takashi Ura

Honoraria: Merck Serono

Kei Muro

Honoraria: Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Chugai Pharma, Yakult Honsha, Merck Serono, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Eli Lilly, Ono Pharmaceutical, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals

Research Funding: Ono Pharmaceutical (Inst), Merck Sharp & Dohme (Inst), Daiichi Sankyo (Inst), Shionogi (Inst), Kyowa Hakko Kirin (Inst), Gilead Sciences (Inst), Merck Serono (Inst), Pfizer (Inst), Sanofi (Inst)

No other potential conflicts of interest were reported.

Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
Distribution of Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) score showed normal distribution curve.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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