Estimated Healthcare Costs of Melanoma and Keratinocyte Skin Cancers in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021

Louisa G. Gordon, William Leung, Richard Johns, Bronwen McNoe, Daniel Lindsay, Katharina M. D. Merollini, Thomas M. Elliott, Rachel E. Neale, Catherine M. Olsen, Nirmala Pandeya and David C. Whiteman
Additional contact information
Louisa G. Gordon: Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
William Leung: Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
Richard Johns: Kenmore Skin Clinic, Moggill Rd, Brisbane, QLD 4069, Australia
Bronwen McNoe: Social and Behavioural Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Daniel Lindsay: Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Katharina M. D. Merollini: School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
Thomas M. Elliott: Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Rachel E. Neale: Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Catherine M. Olsen: Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Nirmala Pandeya: Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
David C. Whiteman: Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand have the highest incidence of melanoma and KC in the world. We undertook a cost-of-illness analysis using Markov decision–analytic models separately for melanoma and keratinocyte skin cancer (KC) for each country. Using clinical pathways, the probabilities and unit costs of each health service and medicine for skin cancer management were applied. We estimated mean costs and 95% uncertainty intervals (95% UI) using Monte Carlo simulation. In Australia, the mean first-year costs of melanoma per patient ranged from AU$644 (95%UI: $642, $647) for melanoma in situ to AU$100,725 (95%UI: $84,288, $119,070) for unresectable stage III/IV disease. Australian-wide direct costs to the Government for newly diagnosed patients with melanoma were AU$397.9 m and AU$426.2 m for KCs, a total of AU$824.0 m. The mean costs per patient for melanoma ranged from NZ$1450 (95%UI: $1445, $1456) for melanoma in situ to NZ$77,828 (95%UI $62,525, $94,718) for unresectable stage III/IV disease. The estimated total cost to New Zealand in 2021 for new patients with melanoma was NZ$51.2 m, and for KCs, was NZ$129.4 m, with a total combined cost of NZ$180.5 m. These up-to-date national healthcare costs of melanoma and KC in Australia and New Zealand accentuate the savings potential of successful prevention strategies for skin cancer.

Keywords: melanoma; keratinocyte cancer; basal cell carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; cost-of-illness; Markov model; healthcare costs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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