Patient-Reported Symptoms and Direct Health Care Costs in Head and Neck Cancer

Are patient-reported symptoms associated with immediate health care costs in adults with head and neck cancer?In this population-based cohort study of 16 544 patients with head and neck cancer and more than 90 000 Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) assessments, higher symptom burden—captured by both the highest reported ESAS score and the total ESAS score—was associated with higher 30-day health care costs.These findings suggest that routine symptom screening of patients with head and neck cancer using the ESAS may help identify high-cost care utilization and guide proactive symptom management while supporting cost containment strategies.

Corresponding Author: Antoine Eskander, MD, ScM, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, M1-102, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada (antoine.eskander@mail.utoronto.ca).

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