Complicated breast cancer-related lymphedema: evaluating health care resource utilization and associated costs of management.
Complicated lymphedema was defined as any hospital admission within 2 years for a diagnosis of lymphedema or related complications based on prior research.
This study demonstrates a 2.3% incidence of complicated lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Increased health care utilization for these patients resulted in hospital charge accrual of more than $180 million in 2 years or approximately $140,000 per patient. Although limitations must be taken into consideration, the significant burden of lymphedema underscored here mandates further investigation into targeted, anticipatory management strategies for BCRL
Basta, M.N., et al., Complicated breast cancer-related lymphedema: evaluating health care resource utilization and associated costs of management. Am J Surg, 2016. 211(1): p. 133-41.