[Socio-economic costs of road traffic accidents in the Canary Islands, Spain, in 1997]

[Provincial savings of costs in road accidents in Spain (2000-2014)]

OBJECTIVE

To quantify cost savings obtained before and after the implementation of the penalty-points driving licence on the interurban roads in Spain.

METHOD

Descriptive study through the construction of three indicators that expressed the cost savings by the number of victims avoided. We defined two periods according to the objective and collected data on fatalities, serious injuries and slight injuries on interurban roads in 1999-2014 for each Spanish province. Thus, data for its population, GDP or number of vehicles-kilometres travelled on its roads (MVKT) were used for each province. The quantification of savings was obtained using official figures of costs for each type of victim in 2014 prices.

RESULTS

The cost savings per inhabitant on fatalities in the period of validity of the penalty-points driving licence was between ⿬ 3.89 and ⿬ 19.65 per year. Savings on serious injuries by MVKT were reduced by 15%-66% between 2006 and 2014, being from ⿬ 449.15 to 1707.88 ⿬ annually.

CONCLUSIONS

During the period of validity of the penalty-points driving licence, the Spanish provinces have achieved significant cost savings.

[Labor productivity losses attributable to premature deaths due to traffic injuries between 2002 and 2012]

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the years of potential life lost, years of potential productive life lost and the labor productivity losses attributable to premature deaths due to traffic injuries between 2002 and 2012 in Spain.

METHOD

Several statistical sources were combined (Spanish Registry of Deaths, Labor Force Survey and Wage Structure Survey) to develop a simulation model based on the human capital approach. This model allowed us to estimate the loss of labor productivity caused by premature deaths following traffic injuries from 2002 to 2012. In addition, mortality tables with life expectancy estimates were used to compute years of potential life lost and years of potential productive life lost.

RESULTS

The estimated loss of labour productivity caused by fatal traffic injuries between 2002 and 2012 in Spain amounted to 9,521 million euros (baseline year 2012). The aggregate number of years of potential life lost in the period amounted to 1,433,103, whereas the years of potential productive life lost amounted to 875,729. Throughout the period analyzed, labor productivity losses and years of life lost diminished substantially.

CONCLUSIONS

Labor productivity losses due to fatal traffic injuries decreased throughout the period analyzed. Nevertheless, the cumulative loss was alarmingly high. Estimation of the economic impact of health problems can complement conventional indicators of distinct dimensions and be used to support public policy making.

Impact of road traffic injuries on disability rates and long-term care costs in Spain

Road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of increasing disability-adjusted life expectancy. We analyze long-term care needs associated with motor vehicle crash-related disability in Spain and conclude that needs attributable traffic injuries are most prevalent during victims' mid-life years, they create a significant burden for both families and society as a whole given that public welfare programmes supporting these victims need to be maintained over a long time frame. High socio-economic costs of road traffic accidents (in Spain 0.04% of the GDP in 2008) are clearly indicative of the need for governments and policymakers to strengthen road accident preventive measures.

Cost savings associated with 10 years of road safety policies in Catalonia, Spain

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the road safety policies introduced between 2000 and 2010 in Catalonia, Spain, which aimed primarily to reduce deaths from road traffic collisions by 50% by 2010, were associated with economic benefits to society.

METHODS

A cost analysis was performed from a societal perspective with a 10-year time horizon. It considered the costs of: hospital admissions; ambulance transport; autopsies; specialized health care; police, firefighter and roadside assistance; adapting to disability; and productivity lost due to institutionalization, death or sick leave of the injured or their caregivers; as well as material and administrative costs. Data were obtained from a Catalan hospital registry, the Catalan Traffic Service information system, insurance companies and other sources. All costs were calculated in euros (€) at 2011 values.

FINDINGS

A substantial reduction in deaths from road traffic collisions was observed between 2000 and 2010. Between 2001 and 2010, with the implementation of new road safety policies, there were 26 063 fewer road traffic collisions with victims than expected, 2909 fewer deaths (57%) and 25 444 fewer hospitalizations. The estimated total cost savings were around €18 000 million. Of these, around 97% resulted from reductions in lost productivity. Of the remaining cost savings, 63% were associated with specialized health care, 15% with adapting to disability and 8.1% with hospital care.

CONCLUSION

The road safety policies implemented in Catalonia in recent years were associated with a reduction in the number of deaths and injuries from traffic collisions and with substantial economic benefits to society.

[Socio-economic costs of mental health in the Canary Islands, Spain, in 2002]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the economic impact in terms of direct and indirect costs of the mental health in Canary Islands (Spain) in 2002.

DESIGN

The cost-of-illness method was used. Direct and indirect costs were estimated using prevalence cost, i.e., the costs produced in 2002. The human capital theory approach has been used.

SETTING

Canary Islands, Spain, including primary health care and inpatient care.

PARTICIPANTS

Mental health patients.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Direct health costs (inpatients, ambulatory care, primary health care, and drugs). Indirect costs (premature death, short-term illness, and permanent disability).

RESULTS

The total costs of mental health were 189.59 million euros. The direct health costs were 81.67 million euros, constituting 43% of the total costs and 5.2% of the total public health care budget in this region. The indirect costs of mental health were 107.92 million euros, representing 57% of the total costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study adopts a conservative approach, the high socio-economic cost of the mental health helps us to define better the dimension of the problem to establish priorities besides opening a way towards cost-effectiveness studies that allow a more transparent debate on this topic.