Long-term Healthcare Use and Costs in Intracranial Meningioma Patients

Overview

This multicenter cross-sectional study assessed long-term healthcare utilization and associated costs in patients with WHO grade I or II intracranial meningiomas at least five years post-treatment. Despite radiological cure, patients exhibited ongoing healthcare needs, including specialist consultations and medication use, contributing to sustained medical and medication expenses.

Background

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors, with approximately 80% classified as benign WHO grade I, generally associated with near-normal life expectancy. Patients often present with neurological symptoms such as vision impairment, seizures, and cognitive changes. Prior studies have shown persistent disease burden and functional impairments years after treatment, suggesting continued healthcare utilization. However, long-term healthcare use and costs in this population have not been well characterized until now.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Patients with WHO grade I or II meningiomas continue to utilize healthcare services significantly even after 5 years post-treatment.
• High specialist care utilization (≥3 visits/year) was common among patients, indicating ongoing medical needs.
• Use of medications such as antiepileptic drugs, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants was reported, reflecting management of neurological and psychological symptoms.
• Healthcare costs comprised both medical specialist care and medication expenses, contributing to a sustained economic burden.
• Persistent impairments in role functioning, anxiety, depression, and neurocognitive deficits likely drive increased healthcare utilization.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should recognize that meningioma patients may require long-term multidisciplinary care beyond initial treatment, including neurological, psychological, and rehabilitative support. Monitoring and addressing persistent symptoms can potentially optimize healthcare resource use and improve patient quality of life. Awareness of ongoing healthcare costs is important for healthcare planning and patient counseling.

Conclusion

Long-term follow-up of intracranial meningioma patients reveals sustained healthcare utilization and costs despite radiological cure, underscoring the need for comprehensive survivorship care strategies. Understanding determinants of healthcare use may guide interventions to improve outcomes and resource efficiency.

References

1. Louis et al. 2016 -- WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System
2. van Nieuwenhuizen et al. 2021 -- Long-term disease burden in meningioma patients
3. Dutch Manual for Economic Evaluation in Healthcare 2016