Societal Cost of Skin Cancer in Sweden 2005

Skin cancer is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers among the Swedish population and a significant cause of illness and death. This study aims to estimate the total societal cost of skin cancer in Sweden 2005, using a prevalence based cost-of-illness approach. The total cost of skin cancer was estimated to € 142.4 million (€ 15 per inhabitant), of which € 79.6 million (€ 8 per inhabitant) were spent on health services and € 62.8 million (€ 7 per inhabitant) were due to production loss. The main cost driver was resource utilisation in outpatient care, amounting to 42.2% of the total cost. Melanoma was the most costly skin cancer diagnosis. Non-melanoma skin cancer was however the main cost driver for health services alone. In the future it is important to establish effective preventive measures to avoid increasing costs and suffering caused by skin cancer.
Original publication: Gustav Tinghög, Per Carlsson, Ingrid Synnerstad and Inger Rosdahl, Societal Cost of Skin Cancer in Sweden 2005, 2008, Acta Dermato-Venereologica, (88), 5, 467-473.http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/00015555-0523. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business