Lung cancer causes 10.000 deaths a year in Argentina and the health system allocates 1 out of every 5 dollars allocated to the treatment of all types of cancer to treat it. In addition, the disease also has a strong impact on the economy of patients and their families.
These data come from two investigations carried out by the Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS) and were released in the framework of International Lung Cancer Day, which is commemorated every November 17.
An impact that transcends the numbers
According to Dr. Andrea Alcaraz, physician, master in Clinical Effectiveness and coordinator of IECS Health Technology Assessment, "Lung cancer is not the most common in Argentina, but It is the one that causes the most deaths and consumes the most resources from the health system.".
One of the studies, based on mathematical models and local and international data (such as the World Cancer Observatory), estimated that in Argentina there are 12.000 new cases of lung cancer each year and around 14.000 people living with the disease. This generates a Economic burden of 556,2 million dollars, equivalent to 1,4% of the country's total health expenditureEstimated costs include consultations, diagnostic studies, surgeries, radiotherapy, medications, hospitalizations, follow-up and management of adverse events.
Smoking remains a determining factor: 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer are attributable to tobacco consumptionIn addition, 179.000 years of life are lost each year due to premature death and disability, which is equivalent to 179.000 people in Argentina losing a year of healthy life due to the impact of the disease, according to calculations by the IECS team.
"Half of the diagnoses are made in advanced stages, which drastically reduces the treatment options and life expectancy of patients.“, Alcaraz emphasized.
The economic impact on households
A second study, funded by the National Cancer Institute y published in Value in Health Regional Issues, analyzed the real-life experience of 131 patients with advanced lung cancer in 3 public hospitals and a private institution in Buenos Aires and La Plata. Dr. Alcaraz and colleagues found that 48% of the participants reported a reduction in income due to the illness, 16% lost their job, and 68% reported “financial toxicity,” or out-of-pocket expenses to cope with care that seriously impacted or exceeded the economic capacity to cope with them, with a greater negative impact on those who received care in the public sector.
"The impact on the family of lung cancer is very significant. "It often affects people of productive age who lose their jobs or their income decreases, and who have to ask for money or go into debt to face catastrophic expenses," noted the Dr. Federico Augustovski, principal investigator of the work and director of the Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics at IECS.
The path to effective solutions
“Given the increasing incidence of lung cancer, countries must be prepared to continue translating research into real-world practice, improving prevention policies, supporting equitable access to health care, improving the effectiveness of health care services and increasing public awareness. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the substantial impact of lung cancer on global health and has undertaken initiatives focused on tobacco control, cancer prevention, early detection and improving access to high-quality, cost-effective treatments,” the authors concluded.
Reference material:
THE STUDIO Lung Cancer in Argentina: A Modeling Study of Disease and Economic Burden, funded by AstraZeneca.
Video What is happening with lung cancer in Argentina?
Infographic What is happening with lung cancer in Argentina?
Technical document (“policy brief”) Disease and economic burden of lung cancer in Argentina.