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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedSaulsberry L, Liao C, Huo D
Hypofractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer: financial risk and expenditures in the United States, 2008 to 2017.
This study examined the costs of hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HF-WBI) compared with conventional whole breast irradiation (CF-WBI) and investigated the influences of patient characteristics and commercial insurance on HF-WBI use. This retrospective study used private employer-sponsored insurance claims to obtain a pooled cross-sectional evaluation of radiation therapy in patients with commercial insurance from 2008 to 2017. The study population included female patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and whole breast irradiation. A total of 15,869 women received HF-WBI, and 59,328 CF-WBI. A higher proportion of college graduates and greater mixed racial composition was associated with increased HF-WBI use. Mean insurer-paid radiation therapy expenditures were significantly lower for HB-WBI versus CF-WBI (adjusted difference $6375). Mean patient out-of-pocket expenditures for HF-WBI was $139 less than for CF-WBI. Geographic variation existed across the United States with no consistent relationship between HF-WBI use and correspondent average cost differences.
AHRQ-funded; HS025806.
Citation: Saulsberry L, Liao C, Huo D .
Hypofractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer: financial risk and expenditures in the United States, 2008 to 2017.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022 Mar;112(3):654-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.10.005..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Women
Pisu M, Schoenberger YM, Herbey I
Perspectives on conversations about costs of cancer care of breast cancer survivors and cancer center staff: a qualitative study.
Despite recommendations to discuss the cost of care (CoC) with patients with cancer, little formal guidance is available on how to conduct these sensitive conversations in ways that are acceptable to both patients and providers. The objective of this study was to explore the perspectives of patients and medical and nonmedical cancer center staff on CoC conversations.
ARHQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Pisu M, Schoenberger YM, Herbey I .
Perspectives on conversations about costs of cancer care of breast cancer survivors and cancer center staff: a qualitative study.
Ann Intern Med 2019 May 7;170(9_Supplement):S54-s61. doi: 10.7326/m18-2117..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Dinan MA, Wilson LE, Reed SD
Chemotherapy costs and 21-gene recurrence score genomic testing among Medicare beneficiaries with early-stage breast cancer, 2005 to 2011.
This study examined whether associations between 21-gene recurrence score (RS) genomic testing and lower costs among patients with early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer were observable in real-world data from the Medicare population. The investigators found that RS testing was associated with lower overall and chemotherapy-related costs in patients with high-risk disease, consistent with lower chemotherapy use among these patients. Higher overall costs for patients with intermediate-risk and low-risk disease were driven largely by non-treatment-related costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022189.
Citation: Dinan MA, Wilson LE, Reed SD .
Chemotherapy costs and 21-gene recurrence score genomic testing among Medicare beneficiaries with early-stage breast cancer, 2005 to 2011.
J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2019 Mar;17(3):245-54. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2018.7097..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Treatments, Genetics, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Women
Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of recently updated US-based mammography screening guidelines. Researchers developed a microsimulation model to generate the natural history of invasive breast cancer and capture how screening and treatment modified the natural course of the disease, and used the model to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening strategies. Results indicated that the hybrid screening strategy that starts annual mammography at the age of 45 years and switches to biennial screening between the ages of 55 and 75 years was the most cost-effective.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y .
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
Value Health 2019 Feb;22(2):185-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2018.07.880..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, Healthcare Costs
Richards CA, Rundle AG, Wright JD
Association between hospital financial distress and immediate breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy among women with ductal carcinoma in situ.
Hospital financial distress may reduce the services a hospital can offer, particularly unprofitable ones. This study examined the association between hospital financial distress (HFD) and receipt of immediate breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy among women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). It concluded that the financial strength of the hospital where a patient receives treatment is associated with receipt of immediate breast reconstruction surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS021709.
Citation: Richards CA, Rundle AG, Wright JD .
Association between hospital financial distress and immediate breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy among women with ductal carcinoma in situ.
JAMA Surg 2018 Apr;153(4):344-51. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.5018.
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Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Surgery
Aliu O, Zhong L, Chetta MD
Comparing health care resource use between implant and autologous reconstruction of the irradiated breast: a national claims-based assessment.
Nationwide data were used to examine health care resource use associated with implant and autologous reconstruction. Thirty-two percent of implant reconstructions failed, compared with 5 percent of autologous cases. In aggregate, failures constituted more than 20 percent of the cumulative costs of implant reconstruction compared with less than 5 percent for autologous reconstruction.
AHRQ-funded; HS023313.
Citation: Aliu O, Zhong L, Chetta MD .
Comparing health care resource use between implant and autologous reconstruction of the irradiated breast: a national claims-based assessment.
Plast Reconstr Surg 2017 Jun;139(6):1224e-31e. doi: 10.1097/prs.0000000000003336.
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Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Surgery
Vyas A, Madhavan SS, Sambamoorthi U
Differences in Medicare expenditures between Appalachian and nationally representative cohorts of elderly women with breast cancer: an application of decomposition technique.
The objective of this study was to determine Medicare expenditures during the initial phase of care among women in West Virginia (WV) who were Medicare beneficiaries with BC and compare them with national estimates. It found that the difference in average Medicare expenditures between the elderly beneficiaries with BC from a rural state (WV) and their national counterparts narrowed but remained significantly lower after multivariate adjustment.
AHRQ-funded; HS018622.
Citation: Vyas A, Madhavan SS, Sambamoorthi U .
Differences in Medicare expenditures between Appalachian and nationally representative cohorts of elderly women with breast cancer: an application of decomposition technique.
J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2017 May;15(5):578-87.
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Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Rural Health
Farias AJ, Du XL
Association between out-of-pocket costs, race/ethnicity, and adjuvant endocrine therapy adherence among Medicare patients with breast cancer.
This study aimed to determine whether there are racial/ethnic differences in 1-year adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) and whether out-of-pocket costs explain the racial/ethnic disparities in adherence. It concluded that racial/ethnic disparities in AET adherence were largely explained by women's differences in socioeconomic status and out-of-pocket medication costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS018956.
Citation: Farias AJ, Du XL .
Association between out-of-pocket costs, race/ethnicity, and adjuvant endocrine therapy adherence among Medicare patients with breast cancer.
J Clin Oncol 2017 Jan;35(1):86-95.
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Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Giordano SH, Niu J, Chavez-MacGregor M
Estimating regimen-specific costs of chemotherapy for breast cancer: observational cohort study.
The objective of the current study was to generate cost estimates for guideline-concordant adjuvant chemotherapy regimens from payers' and patients' perspectives in a large, insured US population. It concluded that the costs of breast cancer chemotherapy vary widely across regimens, and patients bear a substantial out-of-pocket burden.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Giordano SH, Niu J, Chavez-MacGregor M .
Estimating regimen-specific costs of chemotherapy for breast cancer: observational cohort study.
Cancer 2016 Nov 15; 122(2):3447-3455. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30274.
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Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Treatments, Healthcare Costs
Lairson DR, Parikh RC, Cormier JN
Cost-effectiveness of chemotherapy for breast cancer and age effect in older women.
The researchers assessed the cost-effectiveness of chemotherapy regimens by age and disease stage under "real-world" conditions for patients with breast cancer. They found that anthracycline-based chemotherapy was found cost-effective for elderly patients with early stage (stage I, II, IIIa) breast cancer considering the US threshold of $100,000 per QALY.
AHRQ-funded; HS018956.
Citation: Lairson DR, Parikh RC, Cormier JN .
Cost-effectiveness of chemotherapy for breast cancer and age effect in older women.
Value Health 2015 Dec;18(8):1070-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.08.008..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Treatments, Healthcare Costs, Elderly, Social Determinants of Health