Trends in Epidemiology and Mortality of Patients With Lung Cancer in Germany: A Retrospective Study Using German Claims Data

Speaker(s)

Wilke T1, Mevius A2, Müller S3, Dornig S4
1Institut für Pharmakoökonomie und Arzneimittellogistik (IPAM), Wismar, Germany, 2Institut für Pharmakoökonomie und Arzneimittellogistik (IPAM), Wismar, MV, Germany, 3GIPAM GmbH, Wismar, MV, Germany, 4AOK PLUS, Jena, Germany

Presentation Documents

OBJECTIVES: Despite progress in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer (LC), it remains one of the most frequent cancer diagnoses. Updated estimates of its epidemiology and mortality are needed to better understand the LC burden in Germany. This research aims to estimate the incidence/prevalence of LC in Germany and to describe trends in mortality in the last ten years.

METHODS: Utilizing claims data from AOK PLUS (German sickness fund with 3.5 million insured persons), LC cases were identified by outpatient and inpatient diagnoses (ICD-10-GM: C34). Cumulative LC incidence in 2012/2016/2022 and point prevalence on January 1st of the following year were assessed and extrapolated (age-/gender-standardized) to the overall German population. Standardized mortality rates for 2012/2016/2022 were evaluated in cross-sectional LC samples.

RESULTS: Age- and gender-standardized German LC incidence and prevalence in 2012/2016/2022 were 0.079%/0.080%/0.070% and 0.183%/0.196%/0.202%, respectively. Based on a German population of 83.3 million persons, this translates into 58,310 incident LC cases in the year 2022 and 168,266 LC-prevalent patients on January 1, 2023. Yearly mortality in the extrapolated prevalent GER LC population decreased slightly, with mortality rates of 19.9% in 2012, 19.0% in 2016, and 17.8% in 2022.

CONCLUSIONS: LC incidence and prevalence estimates based on claims data are much higher than in the official German RKI (Robert Koch Institute) statistics, probably due to a certain degree of overreporting in claims data, but mainly due to missed cases in the cancer registries resulting from underreporting in outpatient and inpatient practices. Reports from inpatient and outpatient oncology sites form the basis of the RKI statistics. Most probably due to recent advances in the treatment of LC, the yearly mortality has decreased by 1.2 percentage points since 2016. However, it still remains high, demonstrating in association with the substantial incidence and prevalence of LC high unmet needs.

Code

EPH278

Topic

Epidemiology & Public Health

Disease

No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology