Impatto economico del cancro della prostata nel comprensorio dell'ULSS n. 23 di Imola

Abstract

An increase in the incidence of prostate cancer can be expected in proportion to the increase in the elderly population, with a relative increase in expense. In our territory about Lit. 1,275,000,000 a year are spent on managing patients with the disease (0.6% of the total health service budget). Hospitalisation and medical treatment costs account for 49.2 and 41.6% respectively. On the one hand the wide-scale use of LH-RH analogues increases the social costs of the disease (also in comparison to countries like the U.S.A. and Sweden). On the other, it will perhaps produce a saving by lengthening the quiescent stage of the disease and by reducing post radical prostatectomy morbidity. Prostate cancer costs in Western countries will probably remain very high and will be conditioned by new diagnostic techniques, their widespread use and the types of treatment. After an initial increase in expense, early diagnosis (also through mass screening) and early, radical therapy with consequently reduced morbidity, may in the future provide a better quality of life at acceptable costs.