Economic Burden for Lung Cancer Survivors in Urban China

Xin Zhang, Shuai Liu, Yang Liu, Jian Du, Wenqi Fu, Xiaowen Zhao, Weidong Huang, Xianming Zhao, Guoxiang Liu, Zhengzhong Mao and Teh-wei Hu
Additional contact information
Xin Zhang: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China
Shuai Liu: Graduate School of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
Yang Liu: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China
Jian Du: Department of Clinic Medicine, Heilongjiang Nursing College, 209 Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China
Wenqi Fu: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China
Xiaowen Zhao: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China
Weidong Huang: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China
Xianming Zhao: Chinese People’s Liberation Army 211 Hospital, Harbin 150080, China
Guoxiang Liu: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, China
Zhengzhong Mao: West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Teh-wei Hu: School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720, CA, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Background : With the rapid increase in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer, a growing number of lung cancer patients and their families are faced with a tremendous economic burden because of the high cost of treatment in China. This study was conducted to estimate the economic burden and patient responsibility of lung cancer patients and the impact of this burden on family income. Methods : This study uses data from a retrospective questionnaire survey conducted in 10 communities in urban China and includes 195 surviving lung cancer patients diagnosed over the previous five years. The calculation of direct economic burden included both direct medical and direct nonmedical costs. Indirect costs were calculated using the human capital approach, which measures the productivity lost for both patients and family caregivers. The price index was applied for the cost calculation. Results : The average economic burden from lung cancer was $43,336 per patient, of which the direct cost per capita was $42,540 (98.16%) and the indirect cost per capita was $795 (1.84%). Of the total direct medical costs, 35.66% was paid by the insurer and 9.84% was not covered by insurance. The economic burden for diagnosed lung cancer patients in the first year following diagnosis was $30,277 per capita, which accounted for 171% of the household annual income, a percentage that fell to 107% after subtracting the compensation from medical insurance. Conclusions : The economic burden for lung cancer patients is substantial in the urban areas of China, and an effective control strategy to lower the cost is urgently needed.

Keywords: economic burden; lung cancer; direct cost; indirect cost; medical insurance; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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