Assessing the impact of kidney cancer-related premature mortality and productivity loss in Greece and Portugal

ABSTRACT

Objective

In 2018, 371,750 people were diagnosed with kidney cancer globally, constituting 2.2% of all cancer diagnoses. Since 2010, the number of kidney cancer deaths in Europe have decreased in people under 65. However, this is not the case in Greece and Portugal. This study estimated the mortality and lost productivity due to premature mortality from kidney cancer in Greece and Portugal.

Methods

Years of life lost (YLL) and present value of future lost productivity (PVFLP) due to kidney cancer mortality (ICD-10 code: C64 – Malignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis) were calculated using the human capital approach. Age-specific mortality, mean earnings, and labor force participation rates were used in these calculations.

Results

In 2019, there were 564 and 454 kidney cancer deaths in Greece and Portugal, respectively, resulting in 5,871 (3,636 in males and 2,234 in females) and 5,397 (3,100 in males and 2,297 in females) YLL, respectively. YPLL and annual PVFLP were estimated to be 1,326 and €14.8 M in Greece and 1,278 and €11.8 M in Portugal, respectively.

Conclusion

YLL and PVFLP due to kidney cancer mortality are substantial in Greece and Portugal. These results provide new evidence to assist decision-makers in allocating resources to reduce cancer burden.

KEYWORDS:

• Kidney cancer
• health policy
• renal cell carcinoma
• indirect costs
• health economics
• productivity loss

Declaration of interest

G. Bencina, C. Baxter and S. Salomonsson are employees of MSD subsidiaries of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and may own stocks and/or stock options in Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

N. Chami, R. Hughes and G. Weston are employees of Adelphi Values (PROVE), paid consultants to MSD.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

G. Bencina designed the study. N. Chami; R. Hughes; G. Weston and G. Bencina developed the model. N. Chami; RH; G. Weston; G. Bencina and C. Baxter conducted the analysis. N. Chami; R. Hughes; G. Weston and G. Bencina; C. Baxter and S. Salomonsson were involved in the interpretation of results.

Data availability

All data used in this study are available in the public domain and is fully referenced throughout.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2023.2180356

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.