Breast cancer inpatients undergoing mastectomy from a hospital in Guangzhou, China: A retrospective analysis 2004-2013

Abstract

Background: To explore the hospitalizations of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy, and to provide a basis for management, clinical prevention and treatment. Materials and Methods: We conducted an investigation by means of the retrospective survey and the medical records retrieval system, and made out the data of patients suffered from breast cancer in a hospital in Guangzhou from 2004 to 2013, including age, medical payment methods, pathological type, treatment, treatment results, complications, hospitalization days, cost and so on. Results: The average age of the inpatients was 50.14 years old. The main histologic types were infiltrating duct carcinoma (88.06%). The main surgery was modified radical mastectomy (80.41%). The cure rate was 90.80% during the 10 years. The main medical payment method was self-paying (57.28%). The average hospital stay was 13.51 days, and average hospitalization cost was RMB 23,083.66 yuan, proportion of drug fees up to 39.70%. Postoperative complication rate was 0.79%. The self-paying group was with the highest proportion of drug fees (P<0.05), while the free medical service group was with the longest hospitalization days (P<0.05). Conclusions: The payment methods significantly affected the proportion of drug fees and hospitalization days. The therapeutic effect was satisfactory with less complications and reasonable proportion of drug fees in our hospital.