Assessment of Financial Toxicity Among Advanced Lung Cancer Patients in Western China
Abstract Background: Lung cancer is the primary reason of cancer-caused disability adjusted life years. Medical cost burden impacts patient’s well-being through decreasing income, cutting daily expenses, leisure activities and exhausting savings. De Souza and colleagues developed and validated the COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST). Our study aims to quantify the financial burdens of cancer therapy, to explore the relationship between financial toxicity and HRQoL in advanced lung cancer population.Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years with confirmed stage III to IV lung cancer were eligible. The COST questionnaire verified by de Souza et al. was used to identify financial toxicity. Multivariable linear regression analysis with log transformation univariate analysis and Pearson correlations were used to performed the analysis.Results: Most of the patients had an income of < ¥50,000 ($7,775) annually (90.8%, n = 138/152). The insurance condition of the cohort was that the majority of the cohort had social insurance (64.5%), 20.4% of them had commercial insurance, 22.0% of them had both. Patients who were younger age (50 ~ 59, P < 0.001), employed but on sick leave, and lower income reported increased levels of financial toxicity (P < 0.05). The risk factors for high financial toxicity: (i) younger age (50 ~ 59), (ii) <1 month of savings, and (iii) being employed but on sick leave. Increased financial toxicity is moderately correlated with a decrease in QoL.Conclusion: Increased financial toxicity(lower COST) is related to poorer psychological status and certain demographics. Financial toxicity is moderately correlated with a HRQoL, and it may have a demonstrable correlation with HRQoL measures.