El Costo De La Atención Médica Del Cáncer Mamario: El Caso Del Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social (The Cost of Breast Cancer Care: The Case of the Mexican Institute of Social Security)

Abstract

We studied the cost of health care for women with breast cancer treated at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS, per its abbreviation in Spanish).

Material and Methods: Using the Medical and Operative Information Systems of the IMSS, we constructed a cohort of patients diagnosed in 2002 and followed these patients to the end of 2006, identifying the use of resources and imputing the IMSS-specific cost structure.

Results: Only 14% of women were diagnosed in stage 1 and 48% were diagnosed in stages III-IV. The average cost of their medical care per patient-year was $MX110,459. Costs for stage 1 were $MX74,522 compared to $102,042 for stage II, and were $MX154,018 for stage III and $MX199,274 for stage IV.

Conclusion: Breast cancer accounts for a significant part of the IMSS health budget. Later stage at diagnosis is associated with higher economic costs per patient-year of treatment and lower probability of five-year survival.

Note: Downloadable document is in Spanish.

Keywords: breast cancer, health care costs, cost analysis, social security, Mexico