Locoregional therapy patterns and healthcare economic burden of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the USA

AIM: To examine the locoregional therapy (LRT) patterns and the healthcare economic burden of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the USA. PATIENTS & METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed HCC were identified from the MarketScan(®) databases (1 July 2015–31 May 2018). The LRTs received and all-cause and HCC-related healthcare costs were measured. RESULTS: Among 2101 patients with HCC, most received embolization therapy as their first LRT treatment (57.8%, n = 1215); 17.1% (n = 360) received ablative therapy and 8.7% (n = 182) radiation therapy; 16.4% (n = 344) received multiple LRTs. After patients received their first LRT treatment, total all-cause healthcare costs averaged $20,316 per patient per month; 70.7% ($14,359) were HCC related. CONCLUSION: Among newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with LRT in the USA, the economic burden is high.