J Prev Med Public Health.  2015 Jul;48(4):180-187. 10.3961/jpmph.15.022.

The Economic Burden of Cancers Attributable to Metabolic Syndrome in Korea

• Kim D
• Yoon SJ
• Gong YH
• Kim YA
• Seo HY
• Yoon J
• Kim AR

• KMID: 2381467
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.15.022

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Metabolic syndrome is an important etiologic factor in the development of certain types of cancers. The economic cost of the treatment of cancer has been steadily increasing. We therefore estimated the economic burden of cancers attributable to metabolic syndrome in Korea.
METHODS
We reviewed metabolic syndrome-related cancers and relative risk and then calculated population attributable fractions. We analyzed insurance claims data for metabolic syndrome-related cancers in 2012 in order to estimate the direct costs associated with these cancers, including hospitalization, outpatient visits, transportation costs, and caregivers' costs as well as indirect costs such as loss of productivity due to cancer treatment and premature death.
RESULTS
In 2012, 18 070 patients in Korea had cancers attributable to metabolic syndrome. The economic burden was USD 199.8 million and the direct and indirect costs were USD 124.5 million and USD 75.3 million, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
We estimated the economic burden of cancers attributable to metabolic syndrome in Korea and the efforts are necessary to reduce this burden.

Keyword

Metabolic syndrome; Neoplasm; Economic burden

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cost of Illness
Female
Humans
Insurance Claim Reporting
Male
Metabolic Syndrome X/complications/*economics/epidemiology
Middle Aged
Neoplasms/*economics/etiology
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk