The productivity burden of breast cancer in Australia

Breast cancer exerts a considerable burden on an individual's health, but also impacts society more broadly through lost work productivity. This study aimed to measure the quality of life and productivity burden among Australian females of working age diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.

A Markov lifetable model was simulated twice; the initial simulation followed the progression of Australian females diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 using current population incidence rates, whilst the second simulation hypothetically assumed there were no females living with breast cancer. The difference in the number of life years lived, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs) between the two simulations was estimated. All model inputs were derived from previously published sources. Financial costs attributable to each PALY were estimated utilising the total gross domestic product (GDP) for each equivalent full-time worker in Australia (2022 prices) and in scenario analysis using the human capital approach in terms of wage loss, with discounting of 5 % applied.

Over a ten-year period from 2022 to 2031, it is predicted that breast cancer will result in the loss of 4286 years of life lived and 15,597 QALYs. It is also predicted that 16,403 PALYs will be lost, equating to AU$3.26 billion in lost GDP. Results remain robust, showing limited sensitivity to changes in the inputs.

Breast cancer significantly impacts the health and economic welfare of Australian females of working age. Funding initiatives and programs which accelerate recovery and integration back into the workforce are likely to be economically beneficial.