Economic Burden of Breast Cancer on Patients and their Caregivers in a Regional Health Setting in Thailand: A Prevalence-Based Cost-of-Illness Study

Abstract

This prevalence-based cost-of-illness study aimed to examine the cost of illness for breast cancer patients and their caregivers in Health Region 9, Thailand.

Methods: Data were collected from 404 participants, comprising 202 pairs of breast cancer patients and their caregivers across Health Region 9 during six months from September 2024 to February 2025. Participants were recruited by the researcher, going to 10 areas in the region and personally visiting and obtaining formal permission from the appropriate health authorities. A questionnaire was developed and distributed through the primary care coordinators at the local health facilities, who served as intermediaries to explain the research objectives to participants and to coordinate data-collection schedules.

Results: All the patients were female with a mean age of 56.13 years. The majority of the caregivers were also female. Most caregivers were related to the patients, with the majority being the children or spouses. The average total cost of illness was USD 165.11 (95%CI: 119.44-210.78). Regarding the indirect costs, the average total costs for the patients and their caregivers were USD 80.10, with the highest proportion (at 48.52% of the total costs) accounted for by lost income due to leaving work due to sickness (USD 47.92 per month).

Conclusions: This study shows that the economic impact of breast cancer treatment in a regional setting in Thailand was primarily due to productivity losses from missed work, which represents an indirect cost rather than a direct medical expense.

Keywords: breast cancer; direct medical cost; direct non-medical cost; indirect cost.