Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the population-level healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs for men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) either on active surveillance (AS) or not on AS, in which AS was defined as receiving no treatment within 1 year of diagnosis and two biopsies. Methods: AS men aged 40 to 105 years, diagnosed with stage I or II PCa, had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level < 20 ng/mL, a Gleason score between 5 and 7, and were matched (1: 1) with men not receiving AS. The index date is defined as the date 1 year after PCa diagnosis. HCRU and costs were assessed using a macro-based costing methodology and costs standardized to 2023 CAD. Means (SD) and medians (interquartile ranges) per person-year values were reported annually. Results: During the year leading up to the index date, the mean number of HCRU per patient-year (PPY) was significantly lower for the AS cases versus non-AS in terms of cancer clinic visits (1. 7 vs. 26. 7), hospital outpatient clinic visits (3. 6 vs. 4. 9), all physician visits (16. 3 vs. 17. 5), and specialist visits (10. 7 vs. 11. 6). The mean overall cost PPY was 6100 ± 12, 400 for AS cases and 10, 400 ± 17, 800 for non-AS men (median overall cost PPY= 3500 IQR: 2100–5700 vs. 3700 IQR: 2100–7200 (p = 0. 0001, respectively). Conclusions: HCRU and costs calculated for AS and non-AS low-risk PCa men indicate the cost savings potential for AS.
Seung et al. (2026) studied this question.