A comprehensive study that examined pleural mesothelioma patients aged 65 and older has revealed what any of those patients could easily confirm: treatment of the rare, asbestos-related disease creates staggering healthcare costs and resource utilization, with the average total healthcare expenses reaching $11,432 per patient per month during treatment.
Researchers Find Mesothelioma Treatment Requires Heavy Healthcare System Burden
The mesothelioma study, titled “Treatment Patterns, Clinical Outcomes, Health Care Resource Use, and Costs in Older Adults with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in the United States, 2007–2020” was conducted by researchers from pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc. and published in the journal Advances in Therapy. It analyzed data from 2007 to 2020 collected from 554 older adults with advanced MPM who received first-line chemotherapy before immunotherapy was FDA-approved.
The study found that the mean per-patient-per-month healthcare utilization for mesothelioma represented 0.04 of all inpatient admissions, 1.74 of all outpatient visits, and 0.18 of all emergency department visits. These figures demonstrate the substantial burden mesothelioma places on healthcare systems and show that this aggressive asbestos-related cancer requires intensive medical management beyond simple outpatient chemotherapy. Patients in the study had a median age of 74 years old and were predominantly white (95%) and male (73.7%). Many faced additional challenges from age-related comorbidities and socioeconomic factors that complicated care delivery and accessibility.
Mesothelioma Costs and Use of Healthcare Resources Represent Significant Burdens
The mesothelioma cost analysis reveals troubling financial implications, despite the positive aspects of treatments becoming more advanced. The $11,432 monthly average cost creates a significant financial strain for both patients and healthcare providers. The study showed that mesothelioma expenditures varied based on treatment modalities, with platinum-pemetrexed combinations (the most common first-line regimen at 75.6%) requiring substantial resources for administration, supportive care, and management of adverse effects.
Of the 554 mesothelioma patients initiating first-line therapy, 300 (54.2%) required second-line treatment and 120 (21.7%) needed third-line therapy, demonstrating how the disease’s progression has a significant impact on escalating healthcare resource use. Each subsequent mesothelioma treatment line generally involves additional hospitalizations, imaging studies, laboratory monitoring, and supportive services. Adding to concerns over these mounting costs is the disease’s median overall survival of only 16.3 months and five-year survival of 7.9%. With the substantial mesothelioma healthcare expenditures yielding such limited survival benefits, it may be necessary for policymakers to prioritize cost-effective approaches that don’t compromise care quality.
Mesothelioma Study Highlights the Need for Better Therapies
The researchers emphasize that their mesothelioma findings covered the years before the use of immunotherapy received FDA approval, and specifically demonstrate the substantial clinical and economic burden faced by patients receiving traditional chemotherapy. They underscore that more effective therapies that better control the disease and require fewer treatment lines will reduce the burden on both patients and healthcare systems.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.