Objective:

To describe patients’ clinical characteristics, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs associated with the management of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC) in real-world practice in Portugal.

Key Findings:

• 150 patients were included, predominantly male (94.7%) and aged 50–79 years (91.3%).
• High prevalence of tobacco (92.0%) and heavy alcohol (83.1%) use.
• Combined systemic therapy and radiotherapy (ST+RT) was the most frequent treatment (81.3%).
• Over 89% of patients required outpatient consultations and medical exams.
• The global median annualized cost per patient was €7,706.0, with primary cost drivers being ST+RT and hospitalizations.

Interpretation:

The TRACE2 study provides a comprehensive description of LA-HNSCC management in Portugal, highlighting the burden on patients and the healthcare system, and underscoring the need for improved resource allocation to enhance patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• The study is retrospective and may be subject to biases inherent in medical record data.
• Findings may not be generalizable outside the Portuguese healthcare context.
• The retrospective design may impact the accuracy of data collected.

Conclusion:

The findings support the need for improved patient follow-up protocols and resource allocation to enhance patient outcomes.