Societal cost of cancer in Norway -Results of taking a broader cost perspective

Background: The broader cost consequences of diseases may be of interest for a wide range of stakeholders. We aimed to estimate all relevant societal costs of cancer and to provide insight into the relative magnitude of the different cost categories.

Method: We used data from eight different health and work-related registries in Norway. Direct, indirect, and intangible costs (value of lost life years) were estimated over a period of one year with a combination of a top-down and a bottom-up costing approach.

Results: The indirect costs (EUR 1,997 million per year) are almost as high as direct costs (EUR 2,154 million), and the value of lost life years and quality of life represents the greatest cost related to cancer (EUR 18,200 million). In addition, cancer is associated with other costs which are commonly omitted from cost-of-illness analyses, including informal nursing (EUR 306 million), patient time costs (EUR 85 million), and excess costs of using public funds (EUR 439 million). Breast and cervical cancer had relatively high work absenteeism costs, while pancreatic and lung cancer had relatively high production costs due to premature deaths.

Discussion: Direct health care costs represent small proportions of the total societal costs of cancer. Costs commonly omitted in cost-of-illness analyses represent a significant cost and should be measured and valued in these analyses.