PCN92 - The Indirect Costs of Breast Cancer in The Slovak Republic

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer (2009: standardised incidence ratio 62.35/ 100,000; accounting 17.72% of all new cases of cancer in females) and the most common mortality for cancer among women in Slovakia (2015: standardised mortality ratio 17.51/100,000; accounting 17.47% of all causes of cancer death in females). This cost study aims to estimate indirect costs of BC in Slovakia in 2015. To estimate indirect costs for BC the Human Capital method was used. The study was performed from the social perspective. Data were analysed from publicly available outputs of the database systems of Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, Social Insurance Agency and The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic. Data not publicly available were obtained from health authorities on request. In calculation parameters included sickness benefits during temporary incapacity, productivity loss, loss of taxes and contributions, invalidity pension (IP) and financial benefits for severely disabled person (FBSDP). Whereas some data were not available the outcome of the study is presented as a range of possible results. Total indirect costs of BC were estimated in the range from € 99.76 mil. to € 157.23 mil. The major financial burden were caused by expenditures on IP (proportion 82.90%-88.79%) and the minor costs were assigned to FBSDP (proportion 0.05%-0.39%). So far, no published study has estimated the indirect cost of BC in Slovakia. According to our findings BC can contribute substantially to total financial burden of BC. Our study provides the first estimate of the burden of disease and can serve as a baseline for cost of illness studies and cost-effectiveness evaluations of interventions used in BC.