Estimation of the Clinical, Economic, and Social Burden of Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of death among cancer patients worldwide. This study aimed to estimate the clinical, economic, and social burdens of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in private and public healthcare centers in Mexico, utilizing real-world evidence. METHODS: The study population included patients >18 years of age diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC who received cancer treatment at the Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI (IMSS), the Centro Médico Nacional "20 de Noviembre" (ISSSTE), the Mexican Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER), and the Medical Center ABC (American British Cowdray) from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. The analysis included evaluation of epidemiological data, treatment regimens, and clinical outcomes, and emphasized pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, including detailed follow-up investigations, as part of comprehensive clinical management. Additionally, the study assessed the social burden through variables such as working-age absenteeism and presenteeism and caregiver productivity loss, as well as economic burden, considering both clinical and social components, with costs adjusted to 2022 Mexican pesos (MXN) values. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients with metastatic NSCLC were studied. The main type of NSCLC tumor found in the sample was adenocarcinoma (81%). Treatment regimens included pharmacological treatments (78%), non-pharmacological treatments (25%), and palliative care (24%). Complications were present in 73% of the cohort, while 60% presented adverse events. Clinical management costs of up to MXN1,001,579 per patient in the public sector and MXN2,140,604 in the private sector were reported. It was estimated that working-age patients lose 84-335 days yearly due to absenteeism and presenteeism, while caregivers report a productivity loss equivalent to 13-30 days due to the management of NSCLC patients. These indirect costs of NSCLC contribute to the social burden. A working-age patient with stage IV disease is associated with an average indirect cost of MXN49,731-178,287 in public institutions, while in private institutions, the cost elevates to MXN438,103. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the substantial clinical, economic, and social burdens of stage IV NSCLC in Mexico, revealing significant disparities between public and private healthcare sectors. It underscores the urgent need for standardized practices and equitable care across all systems.

This study examined the effects of advanced lung cancer (stage IV non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC]) on patients in Mexico, focusing on the health, financial, and caregiver burdens. Researchers studied adults over 18 years of age undergoing cancer treatment at four medical centers across Mexico, analyzing treatment costs and time lost due to illness. All costs were updated to 2022 Mexican pesos (MXN) values. Treating one patient for 1 year can cost up to MXN 1 million in public hospitals and more than MXN 2 million in private hospitals. Patients might lose about 84­335 days of work annually, with caregivers losing 13­30 days. These lost workdays significantly impact finances, costing approximately MXN50,000­178,000 per patient per year in public hospitals and MXN438,000 in private hospitals. The study concludes that understanding these costs can help create better treatment plans, improving patient care and reducing financial burdens. By aligning treatment strategies across public and private healthcare settings, patients could benefit from more consistent and effective care, potentially leading to better health outcomes and reducing the overall impact of the disease on their lives and the broader healthcare system.

Detection of NTRK gene fusions in solid tumors: recommendations from a Latin American group of oncologists and pathologists.

NTRK gene fusions have been detected in more than 25 types of tumors and their prevalence is approximately 0.3% in solid tumors. This low prevalence makes identifying patients who could benefit from TRK inhibitors a considerable challenge. Furthermore, while numerous papers on the evaluation of NTRK fusion genes are available, not all countries have guidelines that are suitable for their setting, as is the case with Latin America. Therefore, a group of oncologists and pathologists from several countries in Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay) met to discuss and reach consensus on how to identify patients with NTRK gene fusions in solid tumors. To do so, they developed a practical algorithm, considering their specific situation and limitations.

[Epidemiological characteristics of workers with COVID-19 from the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social]. / Características epidemiológicas de trabajadores con COVID-19 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

Background: ¿In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused an outbreak of the respiratory disease called COVID-19, in Wuhan, China. At the end of February 2020, it was detected in Mexico the first case of COVID-19. With this disease, chronic degenerative diseases are decisive for comorbidity to continue increasing. Objective: To know the epidemiological characteristics and comorbidity in workers sick with COVID-19 from the Veracruz Norte Regional Deconcentrated Administrative Operation Body, from the Mexican Institute for Social Security (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS). Material and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, which included 228 COVID-19 patients, who were IMSS workers. Variables such as age, gender, as well as medical unit, contractual category, comorbidities, etc., were analyzed and were taken from April to June 2020 from the Online Notification System for Epidemiological Surveillance (SINOLAVE) database. It was used descriptive statistics, and Pearson's chi-squared, with a p < 0.05. Results: 228 patients were analyzed. The nursing staff was the one with the highest prevalence with 101 patients (44.3%). Comorbidities such as obesity in the foreground, with 27 patients (11.8%), and diabetes mellitus alone with 15 patients (6.6%), and as a group, along with arterial hypertension, obesity and being a chronic smoker in 22 patients (9.6%) were the most frequent. Conclusions: The nursing staff predominated; the prevalent comorbidities were obesity, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension.

Introducción: en diciembre de 2019, el coronavirus 2 causante del síndrome respiratorio agudo severo (SARS-CoV-2) provocó un brote en Wuhan, China, de la enfermedad respiratoria denominada COVID-19. A finales de febrero de 2020 se detectó en México el primer caso de COVID-19. Con esta enfermedad, las enfermedades crónicas degenerativas son determinantes para que la comorbilidad continúe en aumento. Objetivo: conocer las características epidemiológicas y la comorbilidad en trabajadores enfermos de COVID-19 del Órgano de Operación Administrativa Desconcentrada Estatal Veracruz Norte, del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo y transversal que incluyó a 228 pacientes de COVID-19, trabajadores del IMSS. Se analizaron variables como edad, género, así como unidad médica, categoría contractual, comorbilidades, etcétera, las cuales se tomaron de abril a junio de 2020 de la base del Sistema de Notificación en Línea para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica (SINOLAVE). Se empleó estadística descriptiva y chi cuadrada de Pearson, con una p < 0.05. Resultados: se analizaron 228 pacientes. El personal de enfermería fue el de mayor prevalencia, con 101 pacientes (44.3%). Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron la obesidad en primer plano, con 27 pacientes (11.8%), y la diabetes mellitus por sí sola con 15 (6.6%), y en conjunto, con hipertensión arterial, obesidad y ser fumador crónico se presentaron en 22 pacientes (9.6 %). Conclusiones: predominó el personal de enfermería; las comorbilidades prevalentes fueron la obesidad, la diabetes mellitus y la hipertensión arterial.

Características epidemiológicas de trabajadores con COVID-19 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social / Epidemiological characteristics of workers with COVID-19 from the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

Introducción: en diciembre de 2019, el coronavirus 2 causante del síndrome respiratorio agudo severo (SARS-CoV-2) provocó un brote en Wuhan, China, de la enfermedad respiratoria denominada COVID-19. A finales de febrero de 2020 se detectó en México el primer caso de COVID-19. Con esta enfermedad, las enfermedades crónicas degenerativas son determinantes para que la comorbilidad continúe en aumento. Objetivo: conocer las características epidemiológicas y la comorbilidad en trabajadores enfermos de COVID-19 del Órgano de Operación Administrativa Desconcentrada Estatal Veracruz Norte, del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo y transversal que incluyó a 228 pacientes de COVID-19, trabajadores del IMSS. Se analizaron variables como edad, género, así como unidad médica, categoría contractual, comorbilidades, etcétera, las cuales se tomaron de abril a junio de 2020 de la base del Sistema de Notificación en Línea para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica (SINOLAVE). Se empleó estadística descriptiva y chi cuadrada de Pearson, con una p < 0.05. Resultados: se analizaron 228 pacientes. El personal de enfermería fue el de mayor prevalencia, con 101 pacientes (44.3%). Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron la obesidad en primer plano, con 27 pacientes (11.8%), y la diabetes mellitus por sí sola con 15 (6.6%), y en conjunto, con hipertensión arterial, obesidad y ser fumador crónico se presentaron en 22 pacientes (9.6 %). Conclusiones: predominó el personal de enfermería; las comorbilidades prevalentes fueron la obesidad, la diabetes mellitus y la hipertensión arterial

Background: In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused an outbreak of the respiratory disease called COVID-19, in Wuhan, China. At the end of February 2020, it was detected in Mexico the first case of COVID-19. With this disease, chronic degenerative diseases are decisive for comorbidity to continue increasing. Objective: To know the epidemiological characteristics and comorbidity in workers sick with COVID-19 from the Veracruz Norte Regional Deconcentrated Administrative Operation Body, from the Mexican Institute for Social Security (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS). Material and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, which included 228 COVID-19 patients, who were IMSS workers. Variables such as age, gender, as well as medical unit, contractual category, comorbidities, etc., were analyzed and were taken from April to June 2020 from the Online Notification System for Epidemiological Surveillance (SINOLAVE) database. It was used descriptive statistics, and Pearson's chi-squared, with a p < 0.05. Results: 228 patients were analyzed. The nursing staff was the one with the highest prevalence with 101 patients (44.3%). Comorbidities such as obesity in the foreground, with 27 patients (11.8%), and diabetes mellitus alone with 15 patients (6.6%), and as a group, along with arterial hypertension, obesity and being a chronic smoker in 22 patients (9.6%) were the most frequent. Conclusions: The nursing staff predominated; the prevalent comorbidities were obesity, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension