Open Access

ARTICLE

A costing and health-related quality of life study of high intensity focused ultrasound in primary treatment of localized low or intermediate risk prostate cancer in Ontario

Bassem Toeama¹, Nathan Perlis², Paul Grootendorst¹, William Orovan³, Emmanuel Papadimitropoulos^1,4

1 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3 Division of Urology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
4 Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address correspondence to Dr. Emmanuel Papadimitropoulos, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada

Canadian Journal of Urology 2024, 31(4), 11963-11970.

Abstract

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death from cancer among Canadian men. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a novel approach for primary treatment of localized prostate cancer. Little is known, however, about its costs. We aimed to collect the direct costs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data of HIFU in primary treatment of localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer in Ontario.
Materials and methods: We collected direct costs and HRQoL data of 20 patients with localized low or intermediate risk prostate cancer who received whole gland HIFU at a privately owned clinic in Ontario. We compared the direct costs of HIFU, open radical prostatectomy (ORP), robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), and external beam radiation therapy (RT) in primary treatment of localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer.
Results: The average direct costs of HIFU, ORP, RARP, and RT per case in 2023 are $14,886.78, $14,192.26, $21,794.55, and $17,377.51, respectively. The median and interquartile range (IQR) of the study participants’ age and HRQoL data prior to the HIFU procedure were 64.5 (11.25) years, 94.5 (8.65), 38.5 (4), 6.0 (4.46), and 22.5 (8.32), respectively.
Conclusion: Our healthcare payer’s perspective costing study revealed median direct costs per case of HIFU and favorable HRQoL outcomes compared to other treatment options for primary treatment of localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer in Ontario. A health economic model is warranted to analyze the cost effectiveness of HIFU compared to other treatment options in primary treatment of localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer.

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