The costs of diagnosing and treating skin cancer: Findings from the QSkin Study

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-30 DOI:10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100326

Daniel Lindsay, Louisa G. Collins, Catherine M. Olsen, Nirmala Pandeya, David C. Whiteman

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To estimate the proportion of all healthcare expenses attributable to diagnosing and managing skin cancer in a large, population-based cohort, and identify characteristics of high users of skin cancer services.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 40,338 Queensland residents with linked healthcare data from the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS), Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection databases. We quantified the frequency of use and healthcare costs (out-of-pocket and government) for MBS services, PBS services and hospital admissions related to skin cancer.

Results

Over an average of 8.5 years follow-up, 71% (n=28,498) of participants used 245,919 skin cancer services, costing the government approximately $43.1 million (2.4% of all health service costs). In total, 51% (n=20,548) of participants had ≥1 skin biopsy, 36% (n=14,458) had ≥1 keratinocyte cancer excision and 8% (n=3,226) had hospital admissions. Out of the total government or out-of-pocket costs for skin cancer services, 44% and 41% were for keratinocyte cancer excisions, respectively.

Conclusions

Services for diagnosing and treating skin cancer accounted for 2.4% of all direct health service costs in this Queensland cohort.

Implications for Public Health

As skin cancer is largely preventable, investing in enhanced primary prevention efforts may mitigate these significant burdens.

查看原文本刊更多论文

诊断和治疗皮肤癌的费用：来自QSkin研究的发现。

目的：估计在一个以人群为基础的大型队列中，用于诊断和治疗皮肤癌的医疗费用占所有医疗费用的比例，并确定皮肤癌服务高使用者的特征。方法：对40,338名昆士兰居民进行前瞻性队列研究，这些居民的医疗保健数据来自医疗福利计划（MBS）、药品福利计划（PBS）和昆士兰医院入院患者数据收集数据库。我们量化了MBS服务、PBS服务和与皮肤癌相关的住院率的使用频率和医疗保健费用（自费和政府）。结果：在平均8.5年的随访中，71% （n=28,498）的参与者使用了245,919种皮肤癌服务，政府花费了大约4,310万美元（占所有医疗服务成本的2.4%）。总共有51% （n=20,548）的参与者进行了≥1次皮肤活检，36% （n=14,458）进行了≥1次角化细胞癌切除，8% （n=3,226）住院。在所有政府或自费的皮肤癌治疗费用中，角质细胞癌切除的费用分别占44%和41%。结论：在昆士兰队列中，诊断和治疗皮肤癌的服务占所有直接医疗服务费用的2.4%。对公共卫生的影响：由于皮肤癌在很大程度上是可以预防的，因此投资加强初级预防工作可以减轻这些重大负担。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

4.20

自引率

5.70%

发文量

121

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (ANZJPH) is concerned with public health issues. The research reported includes formal epidemiological inquiries into the correlates and causes of diseases and health-related behaviour, analyses of public policy affecting health and disease, and detailed studies of the cultures and social structures within which health and illness exist. The Journal is multidisciplinary and aims to publish methodologically sound research from any of the academic disciplines that constitute public health.