Real-world treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and costs in newly diagnosed patients with rectal cancer in the United States

To quantify healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and cost burden among patients with rectal cancer (RC) compared to those without RC in the US. RC and non-RC cohorts were selected using Medicare Fee-for-Service and MORE2 Registry® claims data. Patients were required to have an RC diagnosis between 1 January 2016 and 1 December 2021, and ≥1 claim for RC-related surgery, radiotherapy, or systemic therapy following diagnosis. All-cause HCRU and costs (per patient per month (PPPM)) were calculated. Each cohort included 20,953 individuals; median follow-up was 24.0 months in each. In the RC cohort, 88.5% underwent ≥1 surgery post-diagnosis; 5-fluorouracil was the most common neoadjuvant (12.7%) and adjuvant (20.9%) systemic therapy. Among patients who did not undergo surgery, 72.8% received radiotherapy and 49.9% received 5-fluorouracil. All-cause HCRU was significantly greater (p < 0.001) for patients with RC versus non-RC; mean all-cause cost PPPM was $6043 for RC versus $1538 for non-RC (p < 0.001). Outpatient and inpatient services for the RC cohort accounted for 57.1% and 36.6% of all-cause expenditure, respectively. Most US patients newly diagnosed with RC received standard-of-care surgery. All-cause HCRU and costs were significantly greater for patients with RC versus non-RC. Given this high economic burden, novel treatment regimens for RC warrant consideration. Rectal cancer (RC) is one of the leading types of cancer found in the US. The use of healthcare resources and associated costs are substantial for patients with RC undergoing treatment that often involves a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. This study compared the use of healthcare resources and associated costs in patients with RC and in patients without RC that were of matched age, sex, and health insurance in the US between January 2016 and December 2021. A total of 20,953 patients in each group were included in the study. Most patients with RC were treated with surgery. The healthcare costs for patients with RC were higher ($6043) than those for patients without RC ($1538). The main contributors to the costs were physician and emergency room visits and stays in hospitals. Given the substantial costs associated with current therapies, investigating new treatment approaches with the potential to reduce healthcare costs is necessary. Rectal cancer (RC) is among the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in the United States.Patients with RC face significant healthcare resource demands and costs, as their treatment typically includes a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.This study aimed to compare the utilization of healthcare resources and the related expenses in patients diagnosed with RC and in non-RC matched controls in the US between January 2016 and December 2021.The healthcare costs for patients with RC were significantly higher at $6043 than those for matched patients without RC at $1538.Given the substantial burden of healthcare resource utilization and costs, it is imperative to consider new treatment options. Rectal cancer (RC) is among the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in the United States. Patients with RC face significant healthcare resource demands and costs, as their treatment typically includes a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. This study aimed to compare the utilization of healthcare resources and the related expenses in patients diagnosed with RC and in non-RC matched controls in the US between January 2016 and December 2021. The healthcare costs for patients with RC were significantly higher at $6043 than those for matched patients without RC at $1538. Given the substantial burden of healthcare resource utilization and costs, it is imperative to consider new treatment options.