The costs of breast cancer in a Mexican public health institution

Original Research

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Authors: Jacobo Alejandro Gómez-Rico, Marina Altagracia-Martínez, Jaime Kravzov-Jinich, Rosario Cárdenas-Elizalde, Consuelo Rubio-Poo

Published Date November 2008 Volume 2008:1 Pages 15 - 21

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S4500

Jacobo Alejandro Gómez-Rico¹, Marina Altagracia-Martínez¹, Jaime Kravzov-Jinich¹, Rosario Cárdenas-Elizalde¹, Consuelo Rubio-Poo²

¹Universidad Autónoma Metropolitano–Xochimilco (UAM-X), Departments: Biological Systems and Healthcare, Biological and Health Sciences Division (DCBS); ²Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Faculty of Professional Studies-Zaragoza (FES-Zaragoza)

Abstract: Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of death as a result of neoplasia in Mexico. This study aimed to identify the direct and indirect costs of treating female outpatients diagnosed with BC at a Mexican public hospital. A cross-sectional, observational, analytical study was conducted. A total of 506 medical records were analyzed and 102 were included in the cost analysis. The micro-costing process was used to estimate treatment costs. A 17-item questionnaire was used to obtain information on direct and indirect costs. Of the 102 women with BC included in the study, 92.2% (94) were at Stage II, and only 7.8% at Stage I. Total direct costs over six months for the 82 women who had modified radical mastectomy (MRM) surgury were US$733,821.15. Total direct costs for the 15 patients with conservative surgery (CS) were US$138,190.39. We found that the total economic burden in the study population was much higher for patients with MRM than for patients with CS.

Keywords: breast cancer, Mexican women, direct and indirect costs

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