Indirect costs and workplace productivity loss associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine indirect costs and workplace productivity loss (defined as an aggregate measure of absenteeism, short-term disability, and long-term disability days) associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from a societal perspective in a commercially insured working-age United States population. The MarketScan^® Commercial Claims and Encounters and Health and Productivity Management Databases (2007–2013) were used in this study, with controls matched 3:1 to NHL patients. In comparison to controls, NHL patients incurred significantly more workplace productivity loss (31.99 days; 95% CI: 25.24 days, 38.73 days; p < 0.001) and associated indirect costs ($6302.34; 95% CI: $4973.40, $7631.28; p < 0.001) in the 12-month post-diagnosis period when adjusting for covariates. NHL contributes significantly to losses in workplace productivity and higher associated indirect costs.

Keywords:

• Absenteeism
• cancer
• disability
• indirect costs
• lymphoma
• productivity

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. for funding the University of Washington/Bayer post-doctoral fellowship in health economics and outcomes research.

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10428194.2016.1161187.