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Variation in the use of radiotherapy fractionation for breast cancer: Survival outcome and cost implications.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Substantial variation in the adoption of hypofractionation for breast radiation therapy has been observed, despite the availability of consensus guidelines. This study aimed to investigate the variation in radiation therapy fractionation in breast cancer patients in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to estimate survival outcome and cost implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This is a population-based cohort of patients who received radiation therapy for breast cancer (2009-2013), as captured in the NSW Central Cancer Registry. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with fractionation type. Survival outcome was estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Cost per treatment and potential cost saving associated with evidence-based fractionation was estimated. RESULTS:A total of 10,482 patients were available for analysis, divided into 3 cohorts (breast alone: N = 7000; breast + nodes: N = 1119; all chestwall: N = 2363). In multivariable analysis, increasing age, laterality (right), year of treatment (2013), early stage, lower socioeconomic status, and regional area of residence were independent predictors of hypofractionation for breast alone radiation therapy. For the breast + nodes and chest wall cohorts, common factors that predicted the use of hypofractionation were increasing age. In multivariable survival analysis, there was no difference between the fractionation regimens at 5 years. Estimated radiation therapy cost of this cohort approximated $52.1 million, compared with $38.5 million had these patients been treated with evidence-based fractionation. This demonstrated a potential saving of $13.6 million. CONCLUSION:Hypofractionation appears underused for breast radiation therapy in NSW over time. This study highlights that evidence-based practice will translate to reduced health care treatment costs.

SUBMITTER: Batumalai V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7382346 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Variation in the use of radiotherapy fractionation for breast cancer: Survival outcome and cost implications.

Batumalai Vikneswary V Delaney Geoff P GP Descallar Joseph J Gabriel Gabriel G Wong Karen K Shafiq Jesmin J Barton Michael M

Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 20200725

<h4>Background and purpose</h4>Substantial variation in the adoption of hypofractionation for breast radiation therapy has been observed, despite the availability of consensus guidelines. This study aimed to investigate the variation in radiation therapy fractionation in breast cancer patients in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to estimate survival outcome and cost implications.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>This is a population-based cohort of patients who received radiation therapy for br ...[more]

PMID: 32721419

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Project description:INTRODUCTION:With no evidence to support extended radiation courses for the palliation of bone metastases, multiple guidelines were issued discouraging its use. We assessed contemporary use and cost of prolonged palliative radiotherapy in Medicare beneficiaries with bone metastases from breast cancer. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal study of palliative radiotherapy use among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with bone metastasis from breast cancer who underwent palliative radiotherapy during 2011 to 2014. Patients were categorized according to the number of days (fractions) on which they received palliative radiotherapy: 1, 2 to 10, 11 to 19, or 20 to 30. We examined the association of clinical, demographic, and provider characteristics with the use of extended (?11 fractions) or very extended (?20 fractions) fractionation with logistic regression models. We also compared the cost of different fractionation schemes from the payer perspective. RESULTS:Of the 7547 patients in the sample (mean age, 71?y), 3084 (40.8%) received extended fractionation. The proportion of patients receiving 11 to 19 (34.7% in 2011 and 28.1% in 2014, trend P<0.001) and 20 to 30 treatments (10.3% in 2011 to 9.0% in 2014, trend P=0.07) decreased modestly over time. Patients with comorbidities were less likely to undergo extended fractionation (34.4% for ?3 comorbidities vs. 44.9% for 0 comorbidities; adjusted odds ratio 0.67 [95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.76]). Patients treated at free-standing practices were more likely to undergo extended fractionation (47.9%) compared with those treated at hospital-based practices (37.3%, P<0.001; adjusted odds ratio, 1.49 [95% confidence interval, 1.35-1.65]). The mean cost of treatment varied from $633 (SD $240) for single-fraction treatment, to $3566 (SD $1349) for 11 to 19 fractions, to $6597 (SD $2893) for 20 to 30 fractions. CONCLUSION:The use of prolonged courses of palliative radiotherapy among Medicare beneficiaries with breast cancer remained high in 2011 to 2014. The association between free-standing facility status and use of extended fractionation suggests that provider financial incentives may impact choice of treatment.

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Variation in the use of radiotherapy fractionation for breast cancer: Survival outcome and cost implications.

Publications

Variation in the use of radiotherapy fractionation for breast cancer: Survival outcome and cost implications.

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