Cross-Sectional Study on Philippine National Insurance Data on Malignancy

Abstract Introduction The purpose of the Urologic Diseases in the Philippines study is three-fold: to assess the burden of urologic disease in the country in prevalence and incidence, to identify orphan populations or underserved areas where urological care is most needed, and to provide an administrative data registry for which clinical data may be anchored on. Materials & Methods The data were then requested from the Corporate Planning Unit of PhilHealth, with the following inclusion parameters: all beneficiaries (members and their dependents) with a hospital claim in the years 2011 to 2021 with the following primary or secondary diagnoses e following variables: age, sex, admission date, outpatient/inpatient classification, specific illness code, claim amount, claim status, region and type of facility. Prevalence and incidence data were computed considering a 2-year lookback period. Health claims data is limited by limited clinical information it contains, and the selection bias of patients in frequent contact with the healthcare system. Results More than 30,000 health claims were reviewed. Incidence data for 2020, in comparison with the Globocan model is as follows: kidney cancer incidence (Philhealth 371 cases, Globocan model 2211) bladder cancer (Philhealth 261 cases, Globocan model 1,541), prostate cancer incidence (Philhealth 934, Globocan model 7,290), testicular cancer incidence (Philhealth 129, Globocan model 355), and penile cancer incidence (Philhealth 32, Globocan model 114). Other information such as prevalence data, regional and facility-type data are contained in the tables and supplementary material. Disparities in reporting may be due to remediable logistical and reporting issues, RVS and ICD exclusivity, and low service utilization. Conclusion Incidence across cancer types follow the trend of global estimates, with prostate cancer being the most prevalent, followed by kidney, bladder, testis, and penile cancers. For future studies, it is imperative that administrative and clinical data linkages are established to form a more holistic picture of the urologic disease burden in the country.