LAUSR

Background: Cancer has become the leading cause of death in China. A recent systematic review showed that the data about economic burden of cancer in China were still very limited. Aim: This study aims to use the linked registry-claims data to analyze treatment expenditures among the patients diagnosed with lung, female breast, colorectal, and stomach cancer between 2011 and 2014 in Jinan of Shandong Province. Methods: A total of 410 urban patients were identified and selected in a tertiary hospital in Jinan of Shandong Province. We have linked the cancer registry data with health insurance claims and hospital discharge data. We were able to create the linked data of a total of 349 patients (85.1%). Inpatient, outpatient, and total treatment expenditure were computed. We also estimated the one-, two-, and three-year healthcare costs after cancer diagnosis. The local consumer price index (CPI) was used to adjust for inflation in medical expenses during the study period, and we calculated our estimates in t...