Productivity Loss and Indirect Costs for Patients Newly Diagnosed with Early- versus Late-Stage Cancer in the USA: A Large-Scale Observational Research Study

The total economic burden of cancer reflects direct and indirect costs, including productivity loss due to employment change, absenteeism, and presenteeism of patients and caregivers.This study estimated the magnitude of employment decrease, work absence (WA), short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), and associated indirect costs among employees newly diagnosed with metastatic versus non-metastatic cancer in the USA.IBMDuring the first year after diagnosis, compared to patients without metastases, significantly higher proportions of patients with metastases had employment decrease and STD or LTD claims (p0.001). The mean total number of days missing from work for patients with versus without metastases was 33.39 versus 14.91 (ratio = 2.40), 64.05 versus 27.15 (ratio = 2.36), and 105.93 versus 46.29 (ratio = 2.29) days within 3, 6, and 12 months after diagnosis, respectively. Estimates of indirect cost differences between the two groups ranged from $6,877 to $22,283 in the first year.Earlier detection of cancer may reduce productivity loss of patients and indirect costs by initiating treatment before cancer progresses to late stage.