Numerous studies have examined catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) worldwide, mostly focusing on general or common chronic populations, rather than particularly vulnerable groups. This study assessed the medical expenditure and compensation of lung cancer, and explored the extent and influencing factors of CHE among households with lung cancer patients in China. | Sun et al. BMC Cancer 2021 21 1323 https s12885-021-09030-w RESEARCH Open Access Catastrophic health expenditure and its determinants in households with lung cancer patients in China a retrospective cohort study Cheng yao Sun1 Ju fang Shi2 Wen qi Fu1 Xin Zhang1 Guo xiang Liu1 Wan qing Chen2 and Jie He3 Abstract Background Numerous studies have examined catastrophic health expenditures CHE worldwide mostly focusing on general or common chronic populations rather than particularly vulnerable groups. This study assessed the medi cal expenditure and compensation of lung cancer and explored the extent and influencing factors of CHE among households with lung cancer patients in China. Methods During 2018 2019 a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in seven provinces municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. CHE was measured according to the proportion of out-of-pocket OOP health payments of households on non-food expenditures. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis was adjusted to determine the factors that significantly influenced the likelihood of a household with lung cancer patient to incur in CHE. Results In total 470 households with lung cancer patients were included in the analysis. Health insurance was shown to protect some households from the impact of CHE. Nonetheless CHE incidence and intensity for average distance and for relative distance were still relatively high among households with lung cancer patients. The incidence was lower in households covered by the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance UEMBI insurance with higher income level and shorter disease course. Conclusion More attention is needed for CHE incidence among vulnerable populations in China. Households with lung cancer patients were shown to be more likely to develop CHE. Therefore policy makers should focus on improv ing the financial protection and reducing the economic burden .
