Medaffcon’s CORE Data Shows: Hospital Care Costs Declining, PD-L1 Testing and Immuno-Oncology Treatments Increasing in the HUS Region of Finland

Two recent analyses of cancer patients in Finland’s HUS region reveal significant changes in healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and introduction of immuno-oncological (IO)- treatments. The studies are based on Medaffcon’s Collaboration Research (CORE) dataset – a unique research platform.

The need for and costs of hospital care during the first year after diagnosis have decreased across all studied cancer types, while the use of IO-treatments has increased rapidly in certain cancer types. The growing use of PD-L1 testing and IO-therapies, especially for lung cancer, demonstrates how Finnish cancer care is shifting towards more personalized and effective treatment – and this study shows how these changes are unfolding across cancer types in one comprehensive analysis.

Medaffcon will be presenting posters based on these two studies at the European ISPOR, which this year will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 9–12. Representing Medaffcon are Scientific Advisor Essi Havula, Sr Data Scientist Juhani Aakko, Principal Consultant Jarmo Hahl, Country Director Sweden Lisse-Lotte Hermansson, RWE Lead Mariann Lassenius and Health Economist Katariina Autio.

Medaffcon’s CORE dataset covers the HUS region from years 2015–2025

Medaffcon’s CORE dataset covers the HUS region, home to 1.6 million residents – approximately 30% of Finland’s population – from the years 2015–2025. The most recent year is included, as Medaffcon updates the dataset annually. The dataset includes approximately 150,000 patients, with data for diagnoses, pathology and genetic results, in-patient and outpatient medications, and clinical variables such as ECOG performance status and metastatic disease.

“The CORE dataset offers a platform to study outcomes across various cancers. Essential oncology information–such as diagnoses, treatments and metastasis dates–is pre-processed, enabling us to address cross indication objectives or focusing on indication-specific refinements in our studies,” Essi Havula explains.

Hospital Care Costs Decreased Across All Studied Cancer Types

One of the CORE studies examined healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among cancer patients between 2015 and 2023, focusing especially on the number of hospital days and related costs during the first year of treatment. The analysis included patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma, melanoma, and lung, colorectal, breast, kidney, or bladder cancer.

The results showed that both the costs and inpatient days decreased in all studied cancers. The largest relative reductions were observed in breast cancer (−78% in hospital days and costs) and melanoma (−73% in hospital days and −72% in costs). The smallest change was seen in bladder cancer (−22% and −16%, respectively).

PD-L1 Testing and IO Treatments Most Common Among Lung Cancer Patients

Another CORE study focused on the use of PD-L1 testing and immuno-oncological (IO) treatments among cancer patients in the HUS region from 2015 to 2023.

PD-L1 testing measures the amount of PD-L1 protein expressed on cancer cells. The test helps physicians predict whether a patient is more likely to benefit from immunotherapy.

PD-L1 testing increased especially among lung cancer patients, with 254 patients tested in the last year of the study period. IO treatments were also used most frequently in lung cancer (11.4% of patients in 2023), but their use was also notable among patients with kidney cancer, melanoma, breast and bladder cancer.

Be sure to connect with Essi Havula on-site. She’ll be happy to tell you more about the studies and about CORE.

Read more:

Real-World Evidence Study on Healthcare Resource Utilization (HCRU) Among Cancer Patients in the Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) Region, Finland

Real-World Evidence Study on PD-L1 Testing and Use of Immuno-Oncology (IO) Treatments Among Cancer Patients in the Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) Region, Finland