BCN HEALTH publishes a study highlighting the substantial healthcare costs associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in Spain

BCN HEALTH realized a retrospective multicenter study to analyze inpatient admissions from a Spanish national discharge database, covering 90% of hospitals between 2010 and 2022. A matched cohort design was used to compare newly diagnosed patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to individuals from the general population with similar age, sex, and comorbidity profiles. The direct hospitalization cost was included, covering medical examinations, procedures, medications, surgeries, personnel and equipment. Statistical methods, including nearest-neighbor matching, propensity score matching, and a generalized linear model, were used to estimate differential costs and to ensure comparability based on age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).The study aim was to quantify the excess direct healthcare costs associated with HCC in Spain, drawing on national healthcare and hospital data between 2010 and 2022.

A total of 199,670 HCC-related hospital admissions and 200,000 control admissions were analyzed. Most HCC-related admissions involved male patients (78%) aged 66–85 years, with an average CCI of 5.18. HCC-related admissions incurred significantly higher costs, with an estimated differential cost of €1,303.68 using GLM, €1,804.25 via propensity score matching, and €1,767.77 using nearest neighbor matching. Total costs per HCC admission ranged between €1,000 and €31,000. These findings underline the need for advancements in early detection, treatment, and cost-effective interventions to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs given the high mortality and resource utilization. 

More information can be found at https://doi.org/10.1080/13696998.2025.2484073