The reported studies of clodronate in the management of osteolytic bone metastases suggest a significant palliative role for this drug. In this paper we report on analysis of the hospital costs associated with the management of osteolytic metastatic disease, and an estimate of the potential cost/benefit impact of clodronate therapy. Two separate patient populations were assessed retrospectively. The first, a sample of 120 patients with symptomatic bone metastases who had died from metastatic breast cancer over the period 1980-1990, was used to define the natural history of the disease. A second non-concurrent patient group of 337 patients was evaluated to determine the mean cost of all hospital admissions for patients with bone metastases from breast carcinoma. The length of stay and costs for hospital admissions related to the bone metastases were also assessed, in addition to the cost of out-patient radiation therapy. Our cost/benefit value analysis suggests that there are significant savings to be gained from the use of clodronate if a 20% or greater reduction occurs in the incidence of fractures, hypercalcaemia, and hospital-based treatment for pain control (via radiotherapy). We also speculate that the quality of life of patients with osteolytic bone metastases may be improved with this agent.
