scholarly journals The burden of colorectal cancer survivors in the Netherlands: costs, utilities, and associated patient characteristics

Author(s):  
Frederike E. C. M. Mulder ◽  
Eline H. van Roekel ◽  
Martijn J. L. Bours ◽  
Matty P. Weijenberg ◽  
Silvia M. A. A. Evers

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study is to assess the societal burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivorship 2–10 years post-diagnosis in terms of (1) societal costs, and (2) quality of life/utilities, and to analyze associated patient characteristics. Methods This is a cross-sectional, bottom-up prevalence-based burden of disease study, conducted from a societal perspective in the Netherlands. In total, 155 CRC survivors were included. Utilities were measured by the EQ-5D-5L, using the Dutch tariffs. A cost questionnaire was developed to obtain cost information. Subgroup analyses were performed, based on patient characteristics and sensitivity analyses. Results Of all CRC survivors, 81(54%) reported no problems for mobility, 133(88%) for self-care, 98(65%) for daily activities, 59(39%) for pain/discomfort, and 112(74%) for anxiety/depression on the EQ-5D-5L. The average EQ-5D-5L utility score was 0.82 (SD = 0.2) on a scale from 0 (death) to 1 (perfect health). Significant differences in utility score were found for gender, tumor stage, number of comorbidities, and lifestyle score. The average societal costs per CRC survivor per 6 months were estimated at €971 (min = €0, max = €32,425). Significant differences in costs were found for the number of comorbidities. Conclusions This study shows a considerable burden of CRC survivors 2–10 years after diagnosis, in comparison with survivors sooner after diagnosis and with healthy individuals in the Netherlands. Implications for Cancer Survivors Long-term care of CRC survivors should focus on improving the societal burden by identifying modifiable factors, as summarized in the WCRF/AICR lifestyle score, including body composition, physical activity, and diet.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 263-264
Author(s):  
Igor Akushevich ◽  
Arseniy Yashkin ◽  
Julia Kravchenko ◽  
Miklos Kertai

Abstract Exposures common in cancer patients––chemotherapy, surgical injury and/or anesthesia, alone or in combination with predisposing factors––have been suggested as potential risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We explored the relationship between chemotherapy and cumulative anesthesia exposure, and development of AD in colorectal cancer survivors. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of individuals age 65 and older diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 1998 and 2013, drawing on SEER-Medicare data and employing a proportional hazards model. We found that exposure to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer survivors demonstrated a protective effect for AD HR=0.821 (0.784-0.860). The beneficial effect held in race-, sex-, cancer-stage-specific subgroups, across chemotherapy agents (e.g., Fluorouracil, Oxaliplatin, or Fluorouracil+Leucovorin), in multivariable analyses, and in propensity score-based pseudorandomization based on 70 demographic, socioeconomic, cancer-diagnosis-related, and comorbidity variables. The effect was diminished or absent when non-AD dementias were analyzed. Findings further demonstrated that the association between chemotherapy exposure and AD was not affected by competing risk of long-term mortality or possible correlation between choosing chemotherapy and higher cognitive score or use of alternative health insurance. The effect of anesthesia on AD was not significant (0.998 per hour, 0.992-1.005) and this effect held in all subgroups, multivariable analyses, and for pseudorandomized subpopulations. Harmful effect was detected for cerebral degeneration, excluding AD, cognitive deficits following cerebral hemorrhage, cognitive disorder due to injury, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatolenticular degeneration. Sensitivity analyses focused on SEER-Registry-specific effects and possible misspecifications in anesthesia records with alternative models demonstrated stability of estimates.


2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 1731-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.N. van Erning ◽  
L.N. van Steenbergen ◽  
V.E.P.P. Lemmens ◽  
H.J.T. Rutten ◽  
H. Martijn ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Hornbrook ◽  
Christopher S. Wendel ◽  
Stephen Joel Coons ◽  
Marcia Grant ◽  
Lisa J. Herrinton ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327482091720
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen ◽  
Michelle J. Naughton ◽  
Anne M. Noonan ◽  
Janell Pisegna ◽  
Jennifer DeSalvo ◽  
...  

The Commission on Cancer’s standard 3.3 represents a paradigm shift in the care of cancer survivors, recommending that survivors receive a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (SCPs). A focus on older breast cancer survivors is needed, as they are the majority of the breast cancer population and their experiences and perspectives of SCPs is limited in the literature. This pilot study utilized a mixed methods approach (focus groups and self-report questionnaire data) to gather information on older (≥65 years) breast cancer survivors’ perspectives of their SCPs, cancer survivorship, and communication with their health-care providers. The questionnaire was completed individually by the participants prior to the focus group and contained items on basic demographics and their health status following cancer treatment. The focus groups indicated that only a minority of women actually developed a SCP. Those who developed a SCP in collaboration with their providers valued the personal care and attention received. However, some participants reported poor communication with their providers and within their health-care team, resulting in frustration and confusion. Participants’ suggestions for ideal SCPs included better education and personalization, particularly in appropriate nutrition and exercise, and managing side effects and comorbidities. Lastly, the women believed that additional long-term care resources, such as health coaches, were important in improving their survivorship. These findings provide insight into enhancing the content, communication, and application of SCPs to improve the survivorship experience of older breast cancer survivors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitch van Hensbergen ◽  
Casper D. J. den Heijer ◽  
Petra Wolffs ◽  
Volker Hackert ◽  
Henriëtte L. G. ter Waarbeek ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Dutch province of Limburg borders the German district of Heinsberg, which had a large cluster of COVID-19 cases linked to local carnival activities before any cases were reported in the Netherlands. However, Heinsberg was not included as an area reporting local or community transmission per the national case definition at the time. In early March, two residents from a long-term care facility (LTCF) in Sittard, a Dutch town located in close vicinity to the district of Heinsberg, tested positive for COVID-19. In this study we aimed to determine whether cross-border introduction of the virus took place by analysing the LTCF outbreak in Sittard, both epidemiologically and microbiologically. Methods Surveys and semi-structured oral interviews were conducted with all present LTCF residents by health care workers during regular points of care for information on new or unusual signs and symptoms of disease. Both throat and nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from residents suspect of COVID-19, based on regional criteria, for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction. Additionally, whole genome sequencing was performed using a SARS-CoV-2 specific amplicon-based Nanopore sequencing approach. Moreover, twelve random residents were sampled for possible asymptomatic infections. Results Out of 99 residents, 46 got tested for COVID-19. Out of the 46 tested residents, nineteen (41%) tested positive for COVID-19, including 3 asymptomatic residents. CT-values for asymptomatic residents seemed higher compared to symptomatic residents. Eleven samples were sequenced, along with three random samples from COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the regional hospital at the time of the LTCF outbreak. All samples were linked to COVID-19 cases from the cross-border region of Heinsberg, Germany. Conclusions Sequencing combined with epidemiological data was able to virtually prove cross-border transmission at the start of the Dutch COVID-19 epidemic. Our results highlight the need for cross-border collaboration and adjustment of national policy to emerging region-specific needs along borders in order to establish coordinated implementation of infection control measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.


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