Nationwide hospitalization costs of skin melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer in Germany

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 65 - 72
• Main Authors: Stang, A, Stausberg, J, Boedeker, W, Kerek-Bodden, H, Jöckel, K-H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2008
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Germany; Germany - epidemiology; Health Care Surveys; hospital costs; Hospital Costs - statistics & numerical data; hospitalization; Hospitalization - economics; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; length of stay; Male; Melanoma - economics; Melanoma - epidemiology; Melanoma - mortality; Middle Aged; Prevalence; skin neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms - economics; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Skin Neoplasms - mortality; Germany
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2007.02334.x

Introduction  Non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), in contrast to skin melanoma (MEL), is considered a negligible health problem because mortality of NMSC is low. The aim of this study was to provide insights into the burden of NMSC and MEL by analysing nationwide skin cancer hospitalization data and data from a dermatologist panel of Germany. We wanted to estimate hospitalization costs due to skin cancer in Germany.
Material and methods  We analysed the most recent nationwide hospitalization data from 2003 and estimated hospitalization costs due to MEL and NMSC. We estimated the annual number of private dermatologist practice visits in Germany due to skin cancer.
Results  In 2003, 20 455 melanoma‐related and 41 929 NMSC‐related hospitalizations occurred in Germany. Age‐standardized hospitalization rates for NMSC were 2.5‐fold and 1.8‐fold higher among men and women than the rates for MEL, respectively. The age‐specific proportions of hospitalizations for NMSC in relation to all cancer‐related hospitalizations increased within the age range of 65 years and more. Among people aged 90 years and more, 14% of all cancer‐related hospitalizations were due to NMSC. Estimated annual hospitalization costs for MEL were €50 to 60 million, and those for NMSC were €105 to 130 million. The estimated number of private dermatologist practice visits in Germany 2003 is considerably higher for NMSC than MEL
Conclusions  Analyses of hospitalizations data and data from private dermatologists give NMSC higher public health relevance than can be obtained from consideration of death statistics.