Comorbidity in lung cancer patients and its association with medical service cost and treatment choice in China

BACKGROUND: It is evident that comorbidity exacerbate the complexity of the management of lung cancer, however, limited research has been conducted to investigate the impact of comorbidity on health service utilization and cost, as well as the treatment choice among lung cancer patients. We examined the association of comorbidity with medical service utilization, cost and treatment choice among lung cancer patients in China. METHODS: We used claims data from China Urban Employees’ Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) and Urban Residents’ Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI) between 2013 to 2016 and data from Hospital Information System (HIS) Database in Beijing Cancer Hospital (BCH). Elixhauser Comorbidity Index was used to assess comorbidity. Negative binomial regression, generalized linear model (GLM) with a gamma distribution and a log link, and logistic regression was applied to assess the associations between comorbidity and medical service utilization, cost and treatment choice, respectively. RESULTS: Among 8655 patients with lung cancer, 31.3% of had at least one comorbid conditions. Having comorbidity was associated with increased number of annual outpatient visits (1.6, 95%CI: 1.3, 1.9) and inpatients admissions (0.8, 95%CI, 0.70, 0.90), increased outpatient (USD635.5, 95%CI: 490.3, 780.8) and inpatient expenditure (USD2 470.3, 95CI%: 1998.6, 2941.9), as well as increased possibility of choosing radio therapy (OR: 1.208, 95%CI:1.012–1.441) and chemotherapy (1.363, 1.196–1.554), and decreased possibility of choosing surgery (0.850, 0.730–0.989). The medical utilization and expenditure, the possibility of choosing radiotherapy increases, and the possibility of choosing surgery decreases with the increasing number of chronic conditions. There are variations in the association with medical service utilization and expenditure, and treatment choice among individuals with different types of comorbid conditions. CONCLUSION: Comorbidity among lung cancer patients restricts the potential treatment choices and poses an extra substantial health care burden. Our findings provide implications for both the clinical management and health service planning and financing for lung cancer patients.