TITLE:
The Economic Burden of Head and Neck Cancers in Denmark
AUTHORS:
Jens Olsen, Tine Rikke Jørgensen, Niclas Rubek
KEYWORDS:
Head and Neck Cancer; Cost-of-Illness; Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infections
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.2 No.3,
May
24,
2013
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The
incidence of head and neck cancers has increased markedly over the last decade.
A Danish study of the costs of head and neck cancers has not been undertaken.
Such studies have again become relevant due to the development
of the HPV vaccines, as some cases are attributable to high-risk HPV 16 or 18.
The objective of study was to estimate the incidence of head and neck cancers
and their health care costs. Methods: Data on incidence and health care
use related to head and neck cancer were obtained from Danish health care
registers. New cancer patients were identified in the Danish
National Cancer Register. Resource use per year in the hospital sector was
estimated using data from the National Patient Register applying charges as
cost estimates. Health care consumption by cancer patients was compared
with that by an age- and sex-matched cohort without cancer. Results: We found
that nearly 1000 new cases of oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and
laryngeal cancer are diagnosed annually. In total the cost of these cancers to
the Danish hospital sector constituted 31.6 million Euros per year, with the
majority of costs (74%) occurring in men. The total costs associated with
HPV16/18-related head and neck cancers were estimated to be 6.1 million Euros
per year. Conclusion: This study provides the first Danish estimates of
the costs associated with non-cervical and non-genital HPV-related cancers
based on very reliable, individual-based data. It is expected that the current
HPV vaccination programme will reduce this burden.