The impact of diabetes on productivity in China

The Impact of Chronic Conditions on Productivity-Adjusted Life-Years in Both the Workplace and Household Settings in the General Adult Population in Finland

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to quantify the burden of 8 noncommunicable conditions on productivity-adjusted life-years (PALYs) at work and within the household among the Finnish general adult population.

METHODS

Survey data on 18- to 79-year-old Finnish respondents collected in 2022 were used to calculate age- and sex-specific productivity indices at work and within the household using 0- and 1-inflated beta regression for individuals with and without a certain condition (asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, depression or other mental health problem, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, hypothyroidism or other thyroid disease, migraine or other chronic headache, and musculoskeletal disease). Age and sex distributions of the Finnish population obtained from Statistics Finland together with the prevalence of the condition and the estimated productivity indices were used to produce the population-level 1-year losses in PALYs at work and within the household.

RESULTS

Among 8 conditions, depression and other mental health problems had the highest PALY losses (99 570 PALY loss burden at work, 256 086 PALY loss at home, and 250 980 PALY loss in general adult populations), with diabetes having the lowest (3666 PALY loss burden at work, 46 344 PALY loss at home, and 43 443 PALY loss in general adult populations). All the examined conditions were as significant in affecting both the productivity at work and the within-household productivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and other mental health problems have a major effect on self-reported work ability and productivity compared with other chronic conditions.

Treatment Patterns and Glycaemic Control Between 2015 and 2019 in Tianjin, China: A Real-World Study of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is associated with a high economic burden in China; therefore, strategies to prevent diabetes, improve glycaemic control, delay disease-related complications and maintain quality of life are essential. This study was conducted to evaluate trends in treatment patterns and glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in real-world clinical practice in Tianjin, China.

METHODS

This retrospective, cross-sectional, multicentre study analysed data from adults with T2D living in Tianjin, China between 2015 and 2019, based on information obtained from a regional electronic medical record database. Temporal trends in treatment patterns and glycaemic control were assessed using linear regression (continuous variables), and Cochran-Armitage (two categories) or Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (≥ 3 categories) tests.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2019, data from 312,203 individuals treated at 75 hospitals were included. Over this period, there was an upward trend in the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and retinopathy each year (all P < 0.001). The use of metformin or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors increased, while thiazolidinedione, alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and glinide use decreased; the use of basal insulin (BI), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), GLP-1 RAs + BI, bolus insulin and BI + bolus insulin increased, whereas the use of premixed insulin showed a downward trend (all P < 0.001). From 2015 to 2019, an increased proportion of individuals achieved glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) < 7% (< 53 mmol/mol; 28.1-33.7%), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 7 mmol/l (21.7-26.9%) and postprandial glucose (PPG) < 10 mmol/l (22.0-48.2%; all P < 0.001). There was no change in the proportion of individuals with an FPG ≥ 7 mmol/l and a PPG ≥ 10 mmol/l, while the prevalence of residual hyperglycaemia increased (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Glycaemic control improved between 2015 and 2019 in people with T2D in Tianjin, China; however, there is an unmet need for more effective glycaemic control.

Reducing economic burden through split-shared care model for people living with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and polypharmacy: a multi-center randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Interprofessional collaborative care such as a split-shared care model involving family physicians and community pharmacists can reduce the economic burden of diabetes management. This study aimed to evaluate the economic outcome of a split-shared care model between family physicians and community pharmacists within a pharmacy chain in managing people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and polypharmacy.

METHOD

This was a multi-center, parallel arm, open label, randomized controlled trial comparing the direct and indirect economic outcomes of people who received collaborative care involving community pharmacists (intervention) versus those who received usual care without community pharmacist involvement (control). People with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, defined as HbA1c > 7.0% and taking ≥ 5 chronic medications were included while people with missing baseline economic data (such as consultation costs, medication costs) were excluded. Direct medical costs were extracted from the institution's financial database while indirect costs were calculated from self-reported gross income and productivity loss, using Work Productivity Activity Impairment Global Health questionnaire. Separate generalized linear models with log link function and gamma distribution were used to analyze changes in direct and indirect medical costs.

RESULTS

A total of 175 patients (intervention = 70, control = 105) completed the trial and were included for analysis. The mean age of the participants was 66.9 (9.2) years, with majority being male and Chinese. The direct medical costs were significantly lower in the intervention than the control group over 6 months (intervention: -US$70.51, control: -US$47.66, p < 0.001). Medication cost was the main driver in both groups. There were no significant changes in productivity loss and indirect costs in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of split-shared visits with frontline community partners may reduce economic burden for patient with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and polypharmacy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov Reference Number: NCT03531944 (Date of registration: June 6, 2018).

The efficacy of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) intervention package through a subscription model among type-2 diabetes mellitus in Malaysia: a preliminary trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) intervention package through a subscription model in improving HbA1c and health parameters among type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) individuals in Malaysia.

METHODS

This is a quasi-experimental study involving a total number of 111 individuals with T2DM (mean age 57.0 ± 11.7 years, 61% men) who were assigned to intervention (n = 51) and control (n = 60) groups. The intervention group participants were the subscribers of SugO365 program which provided a personalized care service based on self-recorded blood glucose values. Subscribers received a Contour® Plus One glucometer which can connect to Health2Sync mobile app to capture all blood glucose readings as well as physical and virtual follow up with dietitians, nutritionists, and pharmacists for 6 months. Outcome measures were body weight, body mass index (BMI), random blood glucose (RBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL, assessed by SF-36 questionnaire). Data were measured at baseline, third and sixth months.

RESULTS

Repeated-measure analysis of covariance showed significant improvement in HbA1c level (ƞp2 = 0.045, p = 0.008) in the intervention (baseline mean 7.7% ± 1.1%; end mean 7.3% ± 1.3%) as compared to control (baseline mean 7.7% ± 0.9%; end mean 8.1% ± 1.6%) group. Similar trend was observed for Role Emotional domain of the quality of life (ƞp2 = 0.047, p = 0.023) in the intervention (baseline mean 62.8 ± 35.1, end mean 86.3 ± 21.3) compared to control (baseline mean group 70.5 ± 33.8; end mean 78.4 ± 27.3) group. Negative association was found in HbA1c changes using Z-score and Physical Function domain (r = - 0.217, p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

A 6 months SMBG intervention package through a subscription model improved blood glucose control as measured by HbA1c and health-related quality of life, particularly the Role Emotional domain. Elevated HbA1c levels are correlated with decreased physical function.There is a need to further examine the efficacy of SMBG intervention package using a larger sample and a longer period of intervention and to determine its cost efficacy.

Assessing patient information needs for new antidiabetic medications to inform shared decision-making: A best-worst scaling experiment in China

BACKGROUND

Shared decision-making (SDM) is a patient-centred approach to improve the quality of care. An essential requirement for the SDM process is to be fully aware of patient information needs.

OBJECTIVES

Our study aimed to assess patient information needs for new antidiabetic medications using the best-worst scaling (BWS) experiment.

METHODS

BWS tasks were developed according to a literature review and the focus group discussion. We used a balanced incomplete block design and blocking techniques to generate choice sets. The final BWS contains 11 attributes, with 6-choice scenarios in each block. The one-to-one, face-to-face BWS survey was conducted among type 2 diabetic patients in Jiangsu Province. Results were analyzed using count-based analysis and modelling approaches. We also conducted a subgroup analysis to observe preference heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Data from 539 patients were available for analysis. The most desired information domain was the comparative effectiveness of new antidiabetic medications. It consists of the incidence of macrovascular complications, the length of extended life years, changes in health-related quality of life, the incidence of microvascular complications, and the control of glycated haemoglobin. Of all the attributes, the incidence of macrovascular complications was the primary concern. Patients' glycemic control and whether they had diabetes complications exerted a significant influence on their information needs.

CONCLUSIONS

Information on health benefits is of critical significance for diabetic patients. Patients have different information needs as their disease progresses. Personalized patient decision aids that integrate patient information needs and provide evidence of new antidiabetic medications are worthy of being established.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Before data collection, a pilot survey was carried out among diabetic patients to provide feedback on the acceptability and intelligibility of the attributes.

Ambient PM2.5 and productivity-adjusted life years lost in Brazil: a national population-based study

Enormous health burden has been associated with air pollution and its effects continue to grow. However, the impact of air pollution on labour productivity at the population level is still unknown. This study assessed the association between premature death due to PM2.5 exposure and the loss of productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs), in Brazil. We applied a novel variant of the difference-in-difference (DID) approach to assess the association. Daily all-cause mortality data in Brazil were collected from 2000-2019. The PALYs lost increased by 5.11% (95% CI: 4.10-6.13%), for every 10 µg/m3 increase in the 2-day moving average of PM2.5. A total of 9,219,995 (95% CI: 7,491,634-10,921,141) PALYs lost and US$ 268.05 (95% CI: 217.82-317.50) billion economic costs were attributed to PM2.5 exposure, corresponding to 7.37% (95% CI: 5.99-8.73%) of the total PALYs lost due to premature death. This study also found that 5,005,306 PALYs could be avoided if the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline (AQG) level was met. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ambient PM2.5 exposure is associated with a considerable labour productivity burden relating to premature death in Brazil, while over half of the burden could be prevented if the WHO AQG was met. The findings highlight the need to reduce ambient PM2.5 levels and provide strong evidence for the development of strategies to mitigate the economic impacts of air pollution.

The Burden of Type 2 Diabetes on the Productivity and Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Life Table Modelling Analysis from a South African Perspective

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is rapidly increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). T2D increases the risk of premature death and reduces quality of life and work productivity. This population life table modelling analysis evaluated the impact of T2D in terms of productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) on the South African working-age population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Life table modelling was employed to simulate the follow-up of individuals aged 20-65 with T2D in South Africa (SA). Two life table models were developed to simulate health outcomes for a SA cohort with and without diabetes. The difference in the number of deaths, years of life lost (YLL), and PALYs lost between the two cohorts represented the burden of diabetes. Scenarios were simulated in which the proportions of gross domestic productivity (GDP), productivity indices, labour force dropout, and mortality risk trends were adjusted to lower and upper uncertainty bounds. Data were sourced from the International Diabetes Federation, Statistics SA, and both publicly available and published sources. We utilised the World Health Organization (WHO) standard annual discount rate of 3% for YLL and PALYs.

RESULTS

In 2019, an estimated 9.5% (7.68% men and 11.37% women) or 3.2 million total working-age people had T2D in SA. Simulated follow-up until retirement predicted 669,427 excess mortality, a loss of 6.2 million years of life (9.3%) and 13 million PALYs (30.6%) in SA. On average, this resulted in 3.1 PALYs lost per person. Based on the GDP per full-time employee in 2019, the PALYs loss equated to US$223 billion, or US$69,875 per person.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasises the significant impact of T2D on society and the economy. Relatively modest T2D prevention and treatment management enhancement could lead to substantial economic benefits in SA.

Gβγ-SNAP25 exocytotic brake removal enhances insulin action, promotes adipocyte browning, and protects against diet-induced obesity

Negative regulation of exocytosis from secretory cells is accomplished through inhibitory signals from Gi/o GPCRs by Gβγ subunit inhibition of 2 mechanisms: decreased calcium entry and direct interaction of Gβγ with soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein (SNAP) receptor (SNARE) plasma membrane fusion machinery. Previously, we disabled the second mechanism with a SNAP25 truncation (SNAP25Δ3) that decreased Gβγ affinity for the SNARE complex, leaving exocytotic fusion and modulation of calcium entry intact and removing GPCR-Gβγ inhibition of SNARE-mediated exocytosis. Here, we report substantial metabolic benefit in mice carrying this mutation. Snap25Δ3/Δ3 mice exhibited enhanced insulin sensitivity and beiging of white fat. Metabolic protection was amplified in Snap25Δ3/Δ3 mice challenged with a high-fat diet. Glucose homeostasis, whole-body insulin action, and insulin-mediated glucose uptake into white adipose tissue were improved along with resistance to diet-induced obesity. Metabolic protection in Snap25Δ3/Δ3 mice occurred without compromising the physiological response to fasting or cold. All metabolic phenotypes were reversed at thermoneutrality, suggesting that basal autonomic activity was required. Direct electrode stimulation of sympathetic neuron exocytosis from Snap25Δ3/Δ3 inguinal adipose depots resulted in enhanced and prolonged norepinephrine release. Thus, the Gβγ-SNARE interaction represents a cellular mechanism that deserves further exploration as an additional avenue for combating metabolic disease.

Productivity-adjusted life years lost due to non-optimum temperatures in Brazil: A nationwide time-series study

Non-optimal temperatures are associated with premature deaths globally. However, the evidence is limited in low- and middle-income countries, and the productivity losses due to non-optimal temperatures have not been quantified. We aimed to estimate the work-related impacts and economic losses attributable to non-optimal temperatures in Brazil. We collected daily mortality data from 510 immediate regions in Brazil during 2000 and 2019. A two-stage time-series analysis was applied to evaluate the association between non-optimum temperatures and the Productivity-Adjusted Life-Years (PALYs) lost. The temperature-PALYs association was fitted for each location in the first stage and then we applied meta-analyses to obtain the national estimations. The attributable fraction (AF) of PALY lost due to ambient temperatures and the corresponding economic costs were calculated for different subgroups of the working-age population. A total of 3,629,661 of PALYs lost were attributed to non-optimal temperatures during 2000-2019 in Brazil, corresponding to 2.90 % (95 % CI: 1.82 %, 3.95 %) of the total PALYs lost. Non-optimal temperatures have led to US$104.86 billion (95 % CI: 65.95, 142.70) of economic costs related to PALYs lost and the economic burden was more substantial in males and the population aged 15-44 years. Higher risks of extreme cold temperatures were observed in the South region in Brazil while extreme hot temperatures were observed in the Central West and Northeast regions. In conclusion, non-optimal temperatures are associated with considerable labour losses as well as economic costs in Brazil. Tailored policies and adaptation strategies should be proposed to mitigate the impacts of non-optimal temperatures on the labour supply in a changing climate.

Diabetes knowledge and training needs among non-endocrinology nurses

Background

It is necessary to determine the diabetes knowledge level among non-endocrinology nurses in primary care hospitals to develop continuing education strategies.

Method

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 6819 non-endocrinology nurses in 70 primary hospitals in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to assess their diabetes knowledge level and training needs. Factors affecting knowledge level were analyzed using multiple linear regression models.

Results

Diabetes knowledge was low, particularly for diabetes monitoring. Knowledge was higher in nurses who had in-service education and training in diabetes; most believed that training was necessary and hoped to improve their ability to care for diabetic patients. The most suitable training method was considered to be each nurse was taught by an assigned person after centralized specialized education and training.

Conclusion

Non-endocrinology nurses in primary care hospitals lack knowledge of diabetes and have a strong need for training. Systematic training is required to ensure that patients receive high-quality and comprehensive care.

Establishment of dynamic nomogram and risk score models for T2DM: a retrospective cohort study in Beijing

BACKGROUND

Health interventions can delay or prevent the occurrence and development of diabetes. Dynamic nomogram and risk score (RS) models were developed to predict the probability of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and identify high-risk groups.

METHODS

Participants (n = 44,852) from the Beijing Physical Examination Center were followed up for 11 years (2006-2017); the mean follow-up time was 4.06 ± 2.09 years. Multivariable Cox regression was conducted in the training cohort to identify risk factors associated with T2DM and develop dynamic nomogram and RS models using weighted estimators corresponding to each covariate derived from the fitted Cox regression coefficients and variance estimates, and then undergone internal validation and sensitivity analysis. The concordance index (C-index) was used to assess the accuracy and reliability of the model.

RESULTS

Of the 44,852 individuals at baseline, 2,912 were diagnosed with T2DM during the follow-up period, and the incidence density rate per 1,000 person-years was 16.00. Multivariate analysis indicated that male sex (P < 0.001), older age (P < 0.001), high body mass index (BMI, P < 0.05), high fasting plasma glucose (FPG, P < 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.015), dyslipidaemia (P < 0.001), and low serum creatinine (sCr, P < 0.05) at presentation were risk factors for T2DM. The dynamic nomogram achieved a high C-index of 0.909 in the training set and 0.905 in the validation set. A tenfold cross-validation estimated the area under the curve of the nomogram at 0.909 (95% confidence interval 0.897-0.920). Moreover, the dynamic nomogram and RS model exhibited acceptable discrimination and clinical usefulness in subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

The T2DM dynamic nomogram and RS models offer clinicians and others who conduct physical examinations, respectively, simple-to-use tools to assess the risk of developing T2DM in the urban Chinese current or retired employees.

Potential productivity loss from uncorrected and under-corrected presbyopia in low- and middle-income countries: A life table modeling study

Objective

To estimate the burden of potential productivity losses due to uncorrected and under-corrected presbyopia in LMICs among the working-age population in both the cross-sectional and longitudinal manner.

Methods

We extracted data for the prevalence of presbyopia from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Data for the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were extracted from the World Bank database and Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook. We introduced life table models to construct age cohorts (in 5-year age groups) of the working-age population (aged from 40 to 64 years old) in LMICs, with simulated follow-up until 65 years old in people with and without uncorrected presbyopia. The differences in productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) lived and productivity between these two cohorts were calculated. The potential productivity loss was estimated based on GDP per capita. The WHO standard 3% annual discount rate was applied to all years of life and PALYs lived.

Results

In 2019, there were 238.40 million (95% confidence interval [CI]: 150.92-346.78 million) uncorrected and under-corrected presbyopia cases in LMICs, resulting in 54.13 billion (current US dollars) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.34-79.02 billion) potential productivity losses. With simulated follow-up until retirement, those with uncorrected and under-corrected presbyopia were predicted to experience an additional loss of 155 million PALYs (an average loss of 0.7 PALYs per case), which was equivalent to a total loss of US$ 315 billion (an average loss of US$ 1453.72 per person).

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the considerable productivity losses due to uncorrected and under-corrected presbyopia in LMICs, especially in a longitudinal manner. There is a great need for the development of enabling eye care policies and programs to create access to eye care services, and more healthcare investment in the correction of presbyopia in the working-age population in LMICs. This study could provide evidences for some potential health-related strategies for socio-economic development.

Association between the quality of primary care, insurance coverage, and diabetes-related health outcomes in a cohort of older adults in China: results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify the association between diabetes diagnosis, health outcomes, insurance scheme, and the quality of county-level primary care in a cohort of older Chinese adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a nationally-representative panel survey of people aged 45 and over in China.

PARTICIPANTS

Among participants with valid diabetes-related and hypertension-related medical history and biomarkers (n=8207), participants with diabetes (n=1318) were identified using biomarkers and self-reported medical history. Individual models were run using complete case analysis.

RESULTS

Among 1318 individuals with diabetes in 2011, 59.8% were unaware of their disease status. Diagnosis rates were significantly higher among participants with more generous public health insurance coverage (OR 3.58; 95% CI 2.15 to 5.98) and among those with other comorbidities such as dyslipidemia (OR 2.88; 95% CI 2.03 to 4.09). After adjusting for demographics, individuals with more generous public health insurance coverage did not have better glucose control at 4 years follow-up (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.26 to 1.18) or fewer inpatient hospital admissions at 4 years (OR 1.29; 95% CI 0.72 to 2.33) and 7 years follow-up (OR 1.12; 95% CI 0.62 to 2.05). Individuals living in counties with better county-level primary care did not have better glucose control at 4 years follow-up (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.01 to 33.36), although they did have fewer inpatient hospital admissions at 4 years follow-up (OR 0.03; 95% CI 0.00 to 0.95). Diabetes diagnosis was a significant independent predictor of both better glucose control at 4 years follow-up (OR 13.33; 95% CI 8.56 to 20.77) and increased inpatient hospital stays at 4 years (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.20 to 2.47) and 7 years (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.28 to 2.58) follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that participants with diabetes are often diagnosed concurrently with other comorbid disease conditions or after diabetes-related complications have already developed, thus leading to worse health outcomes in subsequent years despite improvements in health associated with better primary care. These findings suggest the importance of strengthening primary care and insurance coverage among older adults to focus on diagnosing and treating diabetes early, in order to prevent avoidable health complications and promote healthy aging.

Productivity Losses Due to Diabetes in Urban Rural China

BACKGROUND

Productivity losses due to diabetes are increasing in China, but research about the impact of diabetes on productivity in urban and rural areas requires further in-depth study. This article provides the first estimate of the cost of productivity losses attributed to diabetes in individuals 20-69 years old in urban and rural areas of China.

METHODS

The human capital approach is employed to measure the productivity losses attributed to absenteeism, presenteeism, labor force dropout, and premature deaths due to diabetes of the 20-69-year-old population of males and females in urban and rural areas of China. Based on the life table modelling, we calculate the years of potential life lost and working years of life lost of people with diabetes.

RESULTS

In 2017, we estimated that there were 100.46 million people with diabetes, with the total cost of productivity losses being USD 613.60 billion, comprising USD 326.40 billion from labor force dropout, USD 186.34 billion from premature death, USD 97.71 billion from absenteeism, and USD 27.04 billion from presenteeism. Productivity loss was greater in urban (USD 490.79 billion) than rural areas (USD 122.81 billion), with urban presenteeism (USD 2.54 billion) greater than rural presenteeism (USD 608.55 million); urban absenteeism (USD 79.10 billion) greater than rural absenteeism (USD 18.61 billion); urban labor force dropout (USD 261.24 billion) greater than rural labor force dropout (USD 65.15 billion); and urban premature death (USD 147.90 billion) greater than rural premature death (USD 38.44 billion).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes has a large and significant negative impact on productivity in urban and rural China. Productivity loss is significantly higher in urban versus rural regions. Further investment is required in the prevention, diagnosis, and control of diabetes in under-resourced health services in rural locations as well as in urban areas, where most diabetes cases reside. Specifically, targeted and effective diabetes prevention and management actions are urgently required.

The Impact of Diabetes on Productivity in India

OBJECTIVE

Diabetes increases the risk of premature mortality and considerably impacts on work productivity. We sought to examine the impact of diabetes in India, in terms of excess premature mortality, years of life lost (YLL), productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) lost, and its associated economic impact.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A life table model was constructed to examine the productivity of the Indian working-age population currently aged 20-59 years with diabetes, followed until death or retirement age (60 years). The same cohort was resimulated, hypothetically assuming that they did not have diabetes. The total difference between the two cohorts, in terms of excess deaths, YLL and PALYs lost reflected the impact of diabetes. Data regarding the prevalence of diabetes, mortality, labor force dropouts, and productivity loss attributable to diabetes were derived from published sources.

RESULTS

In 2017, an estimated 54.4 million (7.6%) people of working-age in India had diabetes. With simulated follow-up until death or retirement age, diabetes was predicted to cause 8.5 million excess deaths (62.7% of all deaths), 42.7 million YLL (7.4% of total estimated years of life lived), and 89.0 million PALYs lost (23.3% of total estimated PALYs), equating to an estimated Indian rupee 176.6 trillion (U.S. dollars 2.6 trillion; purchasing power parity 9.8 trillion) in lost gross domestic product.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the impact of diabetes on productivity loss and highlights the importance of health strategies aimed at the prevention of diabetes.

Associations of visit-to-visit variabilities and trajectories of serum lipids with the future probability of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

Serum lipid abnormalities are generally considered as a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, evidence for the effect of long-term serum lipid fluctuations on future T2DM probability remains limited.

Methods

A total of 4475 nondiabetic participants who underwent annual health examinations between 2010 and 2013 were followed for the subsequent 5-year risk of T2DM. The Cox proportional hazards model was performed to evaluate the associations of visit-to-visit variabilities and trajectories of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) with T2DM probability.

Results

During the five-year follow-up, 223 newly developed T2DM cases were identified. Compared with the “Low” TG trajectory, “Moderate” and “Moderate-High” TG trajectories were significantly associated with T2DM incidence, with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.51 (1.12-2.03) and 2.55 (1.62-4.03), respectively. Additionally, participants in the third and fourth quartiles of TG/standard deviation (SD) were associated with increased T2DM probability when compared with those in the lowest quartile. After excluding individuals with prediabetes, participants with “Moderate-High” TG trajectory still had a 2.43-fold greater risk of T2DM compared with those with “Low” TG trajectory (95 % CI: 1.28-4.63). In addition, compared with participants in “Low” HDL-c trajectory, the future T2DM probability was significantly reduced in those with “Moderate” and “High” HDL-c trajectories, with HR (95 % CI) of 0.52 (0.37-0.72) and 0.38 (0.18-0.80), respectively. After excluding individuals with prediabetes, the “Moderate” HDL-c trajectory remained associated with decreased T2DM probability when compared with “Low” HDL-c trajectory (HR: 0.55, 95 % CI: 0.35-0.88). However, the incidence of T2DM was not associated with the long-term fluctuations of TC and LDL-c.

Conclusions

Long-term visit-to-visit variability of TG, and the change trajectories of TG and HDL-c were significantly associated with future T2DM probability. Moreover, these associations were not affected after excluding individuals with prediabetes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-021-01592-9.

The Health and Productivity Burden of Depression in South Korea

OBJECTIVES

Major depression in South Korea, which remains under-diagnosed and under-treated, increases the risk of premature death, and reduces quality of life and work productivity. The aim of this study was to quantify the depression-related health and productivity loss in South Korea in terms of life-years lost and productivity-adjusted life-years (PALYs) lost.

METHOD

Age and sex-specific life table models simulated follow-up of South Koreans with depression aged 15 to 54 years, until 55 years. Depression was defined as major depression. Inputs were drawn from national datasets and published sources. Models were constructed for the cohort with depression and repeated assuming they had no depression. Differences in total deaths, years of life, and PALYs represented the impact of depression. PALYs were ascribed a financial value equivalent to total gross domestic product (GDP) divided by the number of equivalent full-time workers (KRW81,507,146 or USD74,748). All outcomes were discounted by 3% per annum.

RESULTS

In 2019, there were more than 500,000 people aged 15-54 years with major depression in South Korea. We predicted that until this cohort reached age 55 years, and assuming 22.2% of people with depression are treated, depression led to 12,000 excess deaths, more than 55,000 discounted years of life lost and 1.6 million discounted PALYs lost, equating to KRW133 trillion (USD122 billion) in lost GDP. Applying treatment-related response and remission rates of 11.8% and 42.1%, respectively, and a non-response/non-remission rate of 46.1%, increased the total number of PALYs lost by almost 6.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the considerable productivity loss attributable to depression among South Koreans over their working lifetime. Better prevention and treatment of depression is needed for long-term economic gains.

Productivity burden of hypertension in Japan

In the present study, we aimed to estimate the impact of hypertension in the working-age Japanese population. We developed life table models to estimate total deaths, years of life lived, and productivity-adjusted life years lived (a newly developed metric for quantifying the burden of acute and chronic health conditions on work productivity) among Japanese individuals with hypertension aged 20-64 years, with simulated follow-up until age 65 years. Data inputs were drawn from local population statistics and published sources. Gross domestic product per person employed, a measure of labor productivity, was used to assign an economic value to each productivity-adjusted life year lived. Outcomes and costs were discounted by 2% annually. In 2017, 26.3 million Japanese individuals aged 20-64 years (37.5%) had hypertension. Of these people, 23.7% were treated and had controlled blood pressure, 23.2% were treated but had uncontrolled blood pressure, and 53.1% were untreated. During the simulated follow-up until age 65 years, 335,342 deaths (28.0% of total deaths), 1.6 million years of life (0.8% of total), 3.1 million productivity-adjusted life years (1.9% of total), and US$242.9 billion or 28.3 trillion Japanese yen of gross domestic product were lost to hypertension. Our findings highlight the considerable economic burden of hypertension in Japan, as well as the importance of effective strategies for hypertension prevention and management, which are likely to deliver a significant return on investment.

The impact of diabetes on the productivity and economy of Bangladesh

AIMS

To estimate the impact of type 2 diabetes in terms of mortality, years of life lost (YLL) and productivity-adjusted life years (PALY) lost in Bangladesh.

METHODS

A life table model was constructed to estimate the productivity of the Bangladeshi population of current working age (20-59 years) with diabetes. Follow-up to 60 years (retirement age) was simulated. The life table analysis was then repeated assuming that the cohort did not have diabetes, with subsequent improvement in productivity. Differences in the results of the two analyses reflected the impact of diabetes on health and productivity. Demographic and the prevalence of diabetes data were sourced from the International Diabetes Foundation estimates for 2017 and mortality data were based on the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study. Relative risk and productivity indices were based on an Indian and Bangladeshi study, respectively. The cost of each PALY was assumed to be equivalent to gross domestic product (GDP) per equivalent full-time worker (US$8763). Future costs and years of life, and PALYs lived were discounted at an annual rate of 3%.

RESULTS

Assuming a follow-up of this population (aged 20-59 years) until age 60 years or death, an estimated 813 807 excess deaths, loss of 4.0 million life years (5.5%) and 9.2 million PALYs (20.4%) were attributable to having diabetes. This was equivalent to 0.7 YLL, and 1.6 PALYs lost per person. The loss in PALYs equated to a total of US$97.4 billion lost (US$16 987 per person) in GDP. The results of the scenario analysis showed that the estimation was robust.

CONCLUSION

In Bangladesh, the impact of diabetes on productivity loss and the broader economy looms large, and poses a substantial risk to the country's future prosperity. This highlights the critical importance of health strategies aimed at the control of diabetes.

Productivity-adjusted life years lost due to type 2 diabetes in Germany in 2020 and 2040

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Type 2 diabetes can lead to reduced productivity during working age. We aimed to estimate productive life years lost associated with type 2 diabetes on the individual and population level in Germany in 2020 and 2040, while accounting for future trends in mortality.

METHODS

Based on a mathematical projection model, we estimated age- and sex-specific productivity losses associated with type 2 diabetes during working age (20-69 years) in Germany in 2020 and 2040. Productivity losses in terms of excess mortality (years of life lost, YLL) and reductions in labour force participation, presenteeism and absenteeism (years of productivity lost, YPL) were summed to calculate productivity-adjusted life years (PALY) lost. Input data for the projection were based on meta-analyses, representative population-based studies and population projections to account for future trends in mortality.

RESULTS

Compared with a person without type 2 diabetes, mean PALY lost per person with type 2 diabetes in 2020 was 2.6 years (95% CI 2.3, 3.0). Of these 2.6 years, 0.4 (95% CI 0.3, 0.4) years were lost due to YLL and 2.3 (95% CI 1.9, 2.6) years were lost due to YPL. Age- and sex-specific results show that younger age groups and women are expected to lose more productive life years than older age groups and men. Population-wide estimates suggest that 4.60 (95% CI 4.58, 4.63) million people with prevalent type 2 diabetes in 2020 are expected to lose 12.06 (95% CI 10.42, 13.76) million PALY (1.62 million years due to YLL and 10.44 million years due to YPL). In 2040, individual-level PALY lost are projected to slightly decrease due to reductions in YLL. In contrast, population-wide PALY lost are projected to increase to 15.39 (95% CI 13.19, 17.64) million due to an increase in the number of people with type 2 diabetes to 5.45 (95% CI 5.41, 5.50) million.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

On the population level, a substantial increase in productivity burden associated with type 2 diabetes was projected for Germany between 2020 and 2040. Efforts to reduce the incidence rate of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications may attenuate this increase.

The influence of hypoglycemia on the specific quality of life in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a comparative cross-sectional study of diabetics with and without hypoglycemia in Xi'an, China

Purpose

This study aims to explore the incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the influence of hypoglycemia on the specific quality of life in T2DM patients.

Methods

It was a comparative cross-sectional study consisting of 519 T2DM patients in Xi'an, China and patients were investigated by self-reported hypoglycemia and specific quality of life questionnaires from September 2019 to January 2020. Descriptive analysis, t-test, Chi-square test, hierarchical regression analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis were applied to assess the influence of hypoglycemia on the specific quality of life.

Results

The incidence of hypoglycemia in T2DM patients was 32.18%. The mean score of specific quality of life in diabetes without hypoglycemia was 57.33 ± 15.36 and was 61.56 ± 17.50 in those with hypoglycemia, which indicated that hypoglycemia had a serious impact on the quality of life of diabetics (t = − 5.172, p = 0.000). In the Univariate analysis of specific quality of life, age, education background, marital status, living status, duration of diabetes, monthly income per capita were independent and significant factors associated with specific quality of life of two groups of T2DM patients (p < 0.05). In the hierarchical regression analysis, the duration of the diabetes more than 11 years and the frequency of hypoglycemia more than 6 times in half a year entered the equation of specific quality of life of 519 diabetics respectively (p < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, age, marital status and income all entered the regression equation of quality of life of the two groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Hypoglycemia will have a serious impact on the quality of life of T2DM patients. In order to improve the living quality in diabetics, effective measurements should be taken to strengthen the management of blood glucose and to avoid hypoglycemia.

Estimating the Productivity Impact of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Australia Between 2020 and 2029, Using a Novel Work Utility Measure: The Productivity-Adjusted Life Year (PALY)

PURPOSE

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare hematologic malignancy accounting for 0.8% of new cancer diagnoses in Australia. High mortality and morbidity affect work productivity through workforce dropout and premature death. This study sought to estimate the productivity loss attributable to AML in the Australian population over 10 years and to estimate the costs of this productivity loss. Productivity was measured using productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs), a similar concept to quality-adjusted life years, but adjusts for the productivity loss attributable to disease, rather than impaired health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dynamic life tables modeled the Australian working population (age 15-65 years) between 2020 and 2029. The model population had two cohorts: those with and without AML. Differences in life years, PALYs, and costs represented the health and productivity impact of AML. Secondary analyses evaluated the impact of different scenarios.

RESULTS

Over the next 10 years, there will be 7,600 years of life lost and 7,337 PALYs lost because of AML, amounting to Australian dollars (AU$) 1.43 billion in lost gross domestic product ($971 million in US dollars). Secondary analyses highlight potential savings of approximately AU$52 million if survival rates were improved by 20% and almost AU$118 million in savings if the return-to-work rates increased by 20% on the current estimates.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that even in low-incidence cancer, high mortality and morbidity translate to profound impacts on years of life, productivity, and the broader economy. Better treatment strategies are likely to result in significant economic gains. This highlights the value of investing in research for improved therapies.

The Preventable Productivity Burden of Kidney Disease in Australia

BACKGROUND

Kidney disease is associated with impaired work productivity. However, the collective effect of missed work days, reduced output at work, and early withdrawal from the workforce is rarely considered in health-economic evaluations.

METHODS

To determine the effect on work productivity of preventing incident cases of kidney disease, using the novel measure "productivity-adjusted life year" (PALY), we constructed a dynamic life table model for the Australian working-age population (aged 15-69 years) over 10 years (2020-2029), stratified by kidney-disease status. Input data, including productivity estimates, were sourced from the literature. We ascribed a financial value to the PALY metric in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per equivalent full-time worker and assessed the total number of years lived, total PALYs, and broader economic costs (GDP per PALY). We repeated the model simulation, assuming a reduced kidney-disease incidence; the differences reflected the effects of preventing new kidney-disease cases. Outcomes were discounted by 5% annually.

RESULTS

Our projections indicate that, from 2020 to 2029, the estimated number of new kidney-disease cases will exceed 161,000. Preventing 10% of new cases of kidney disease during this period would result in >300 premature deaths averted and approximately 550 years of life and 7600 PALYs saved-equivalent to a savings of US$1.1 billion in GDP or US$67,000 per new case avoided.

CONCLUSIONS

Pursuing a relatively modest target for preventing kidney disease in Australia may prolong years of life lived and increase productive life years, resulting in substantial economic benefit. Our findings highlight the need for investment in preventive measures to reduce future cases of kidney disease.

Pharmacoeconomics of obesity in China: a scoping review

Background: With the growing rate of obesity and associated chronic conditions in China, there is a need to assess the health and economic burdens of obesity and examine the effectiveness of pharmaceutical, medical, and comprehensive weight-loss interventions.Areas covered: This article reviewed publications retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar during 2010-2020 on pharmacoeconomic studies related to overweight and obesity in China. We identified five cost-of-illness studies and four cost-effectiveness analyses of weight-loss interventions, including bariatric surgeries and a comprehensive intervention program.Expert opinion: There is a lack of pharmacoeconomic analyses of obesity in China. Existing studies have often taken the health system perspective without accounting for productivity loss. Cohort studies and studies based on electronic health records or claims data are needed to provide the epidemiologic parameters required for homegrown economic evaluations of the health and economic burdens of obesity in China, as well as the cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce obesity and its sequela.

Living beyond the limitation: Rehabilitation, life and productivity of individuals with schizophrenia in South-West Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia, the most chronic and stigmatized form of mental illness, can be described as a brain disorder that affects an individual's cognition. Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit socially unacceptable symptoms that affect their psychosocial lives. They suffer from reduced productivity due to the debilitating effect of the illness, and the negative symptoms impede their employability; such symptoms and effects aggravate the stigma around mental illness. However, when rehabilitation is successfully achieved, so is productivity, and this decreases the associated stigma. Thus, this study describes the rehabilitation experiences and productivity of individuals with schizophrenia in South-West Nigeria.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A descriptive qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was used to gather information from mental health service users. The discharged users in this study received in-hospital or outpatient rehabilitation care at four outpatient units within two specialist mental health-care facilities in South-West Nigeria. These facilities offer vocational training and rehabilitation services for individuals with schizophrenia. Twenty-nine mental health service users were interviewed. The data from the interviews were independently analysed by two researchers through a content analysis approach using NVIVO version 11. The researchers compared the results of the analysis and reached an agreement on the conclusion.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The rehabilitation services availed by patients in the research setting are of three types. Some attend occupational rehabilitation to learn a trade; they depend on professionals for the choice of skill but at a cost that is not affordable to many. Some stay in rehabilitation units linked to the hospital, rendering their services at a cost, and their living expenses and skill acquisition processes are based on the remuneration they get from the services rendered to the institution. Others depend on their family members' efforts to afford rehabilitation services but set up on job by family or employed in family business. The mental health service users in this study who offered their services to the institutions were able to make informed decisions and showed better performance with their chosen occupation than those who depended on their family or health professionals for the choice of rehabilitation service or vocational career. Therefore, this study concludes that prioritizing mental health facility users' preferences in terms of productive activities (sales, services, vocation) or rehabilitation goals should be encouraged.

Productivity Benefits of Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Australia: A 10-Year Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Diabetes imposes a heavy burden on both health and productivity. In this study, we sought to estimate the potential productivity gains associated with the prevention of type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years in Australia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Dynamic life table models were constructed to estimate years of life lived and productivity-adjusted life-years (PALYs) lived by Australians aged 20-69 years over the period from 2020 to 2029. The models distinguished people with and without type 2 diabetes. PALYs were ascribed a financial value equivalent to gross domestic product (GDP) per full-time worker in Australia (∼200,000 Australian dollars [AUD]). The model simulation was first undertaken assuming currently expected trends in the incidence of type 2 diabetes and then repeated assuming hypothetically that the incidence was reduced. The difference between the modeled outputs reflected the impact of new cases of type 2 diabetes on productivity as well as the potential benefits of prevention. An annual 5% discount rate was applied to all outcomes.

RESULTS

Over the next decade, 140 million years of life and 87 million PALYs will be lived by Australians of working age, contributing AUD 18.0 trillion to the country's GDP. A 10% reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes would result in a gain of 2,510 PALYs and AUD 532 million in GDP.

CONCLUSIONS

This study illustrates the health and economic impact of type 2 diabetes and the gains that could be potentially achieved from the implementation of effective prevention strategies. However, cost-effectiveness evaluations of these prevention strategies are needed.

Burden of disease and productivity impact of Streptococcus suis infection in Thailand

Background

Streptoccocus suis (S.suis) infection is a neglected zoonosis disease in humans mainly affects men of working age. We estimated the health and economic burden of S.suis infection in Thailand in terms of years of life lost, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost, and productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) lost which is a novel measure that adjusts years of life lived for productivity loss attributable to disease.

Methods

A decision-analytic Markov model was developed to simulate the impact of S. suis infection and its major complications: death, meningitis and infective endocarditis among Thai people in 2019 with starting age of 51 years. Transition probabilities, and inputs pertaining to costs, utilities and productivity impairment associated with long-term complications were derived from published sources. A lifetime time horizon with follow-up until death or age 100 years was adopted. The simulation was repeated assuming that the cohort had not been infected with S.suis. The differences between the two set of model outputs in years of life, QALYs, and PALYs lived reflected the impact of S.suis infection. An annual discount rate of 3% was applied to both costs and outcomes. One-way sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulation modeling technique using 10,000 iterations were performed to assess the impact of uncertainty in the model.

Key results

This cohort incurred 769 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 695 to 841) years of life lost (14% of predicted years of life lived if infection had not occurred), 826 (95% UI: 588 to 1,098) QALYs lost (21%) and 793 (95%UI: 717 to 867) PALYs (15%) lost. These equated to an average of 2.46 years of life, 2.64 QALYs and 2.54 PALYs lost per person. The loss in PALYs was associated with a loss of 346 (95% UI: 240 to 461) million Thai baht (US$11.3 million) in GDP, which equated to 1.1 million Thai baht (US$ 36,033) lost per person.

Conclusions

S.suis infection imposes a significant economic burden both in terms of health and productivity. Further research to investigate the effectiveness of public health awareness programs and disease control interventions should be mandated to provide a clearer picture for decision making in public health strategies and resource allocations.

Streptoccocus suis (S.suis) infection is a potentially lethal zoonotic disease in humans. In the present study, we sought to estimate the impact of the disease in Thailand in terms of years of life lost, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost, and productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) lost. A decision-analytic Markov model was developed to simulate the impact of S.suis infection and its major complications among Thai people. In 2019, it was estimated that the infection incurred 769 years of life lost (14% of predicted years of life lived if infection had not occurred), 826 QALYs lost (21%) and 793 PALYs (15%) lost. These equated to an average of 2.5 years of life, 2.6 QALYs and 2.5 PALYs lost per person. The loss in PALYs was associated with a loss of 346 million Thai baht (US$11.3 million) in GDP, which equated to 1.1 million Thai baht (US$ 36,033) lost per person. The findings call for increased public health awareness and comprehensive efforts to control and prevent the disease.

The Health and Productivity Burden of Migraines in Australia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to quantify the health and productivity burden of migraines in Australia, measured by quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs, a novel measure of productivity), and associated health-care and broader economic costs.

METHODS

A Markov state-transition model was constructed to simulate follow-up of Australians aged 20-64 years over the next 10 years. The model was first run using current prevalence estimates of migraine. It was then rerun assuming that people with migraine hypothetically did not have the condition. Differences in outcomes between the 2 model simulations represented the health and productivity burden attributable to migraine. All data inputs were obtained from published sources. Gross domestic product (GDP) per equivalent full-time worker in Australia was used to reflect the cost of each PALY (AU$177,092). Future costs and outcomes were discounted by 5% annually.

RESULTS

Currently, 1,274,319 million (8.5%) Australians aged 20-64 years have migraine. Over the next 10 years, migraine was predicted to lead to a loss of 2,577,783 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2,054,980 to 3,000,784) QALYs among this cohort (2.02 per person and 2.43% of total QALYs), and AU$1.67 (95% CI $1.16 to $2.37) billion in health-care costs (AU$1313 per person, 95% CI $914 to $1862). There would also be 384,740 (95% CI 299,102 to 479,803) PALYs lost (0.30 per person and 0.53% of total PALYs), resulting in AU$68.13 (95% CI $44.42 to $98.25) billion of lost GDP (AU$53,467 per person, 95% CI $34,855 to $77,102).

CONCLUSION

Migraines impose a substantial health and economic burden on Australians of working age. Funding interventions that reduce the prevalence of migraines and/or its effects are likely to provide sound return on investment.

The impact of coronary heart disease prevention on work productivity: a 10-year analysis

AIMS

To determine the impact of preventing new (incident) cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) on years of life and productivity, using the novel measure 'productivity-adjusted life year' (PALY), over the next 10 years.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A dynamic life table model was constructed for the total Australian working-age population (15-69 years) over 10 years (2020-2029), separated by CHD status. Productivity estimates were sourced from the literature. The PALY was ascribed a financial value in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per equivalent full-time worker. The total number of years lived, PALYs, and economic burden (in terms of GDP per PALY) were estimated. The model simulation was repeated assuming incidence was reduced, and the differences represented the impact of CHD prevention. All outcomes were discounted by 5% per annum. Over 10 years, the total projected years lived and PALYs in the Australian working-age population (with and without CHD) were 133 million and 83 million, respectively, amounting to A$17.2 trillion in GDP. We predicted more than 290 000 new (incident) CHD cases over the next 10 years. If all new cases of CHD could be prevented during this period, a total of 4 000 deaths could be averted, resulting in more than 8 000 years of life saved and 104 000 PALYs gained, equivalent to a gain of nearly A$21.8 billion (US$14.8 billion) in GDP.

CONCLUSION

Prevention of CHD will prolong years of life lived and productive life years, resulting in substantial economic benefit. Policy makers and employers are encouraged to engage in preventive measures addressing CHD.

The costs of epilepsy in Australia

Objective

To determine the health economic burden of epilepsy for Australians of working age by using life table modeling and to model whether improved seizure control may result in substantial health economic benefits.

Methods

Life table modeling was used for working age Australians aged 15–69 years with epilepsy and the cohort was followed until age 70 years. Published 2017 population and epilepsy-related data regarding epilepsy prevalence, mortality, and productivity were used. This model was then re-simulated, assuming the cohort no longer had epilepsy. Differences in outcomes between these cohorts were attributed to epilepsy. Scenarios were also simulated in which the proportion of seizure-free patients increased from baseline 70% up to 75% and 80%.

Results

In 2017, Australians of working age with epilepsy followed until age 70 years were predicted to experience over 14,000 excess deaths, more than 78,000 years of life lost, and over 146,000 productivity-adjusted life years lost due to epilepsy. This resulted in lost gross domestic product (GDP) of US $22.1 billion. Increasing seizure freedom by 5% and 10% would reduce health care costs, save years of life, and translate to US $2.6 billion and US $5.3 billion GDP retained for seizure freedom rates of 75% and 80%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the considerable societal and economic burden of epilepsy. Relatively modest improvements in overall seizure control could bring substantial economic benefits.