Student National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati, India
Background: India accounts for 6% of all Gallbladder Cancer (GBC) cases globally, and Northeast population accounts for the vast bulk of those cases compared to the west and south Indian population. Being one of the world’s GBC hotspots, northeast India has the highest figure in the country. The lack of any Pharmacoeconomics-related study in this regard and the alarmingly high prevalence of GBC in this part of India has prompted us to take up this study.
Objectives: To quantify the Years of Potential Productivity Life Lost (YPPLL) and productivity losses per death from GBC in Northeast India.
Methods: We used an incidence-based prospective approach and modelled patients who registered in the Gastro Intestinal-Gallbladder (GI-GB) Department of a tertiary care cancer hospital in northeast India, over a period of nine months from August 2022 to April 2023. Patients of any gender diagnosed with GBC aged ≥18 years were included in our study. Patients diagnosed with other cancers and metastasized to Gallbladder cancer patients, who are alive after a follow-up of every 3 months, and patients who are not willing to participate were excluded from the study. Based on the mentioned study criteria and data obtained, we utilized epidemiological and economic inputs to estimate YPPLL, and productivity loss/death. The cost derived from mortality due to GBC was estimated using data on mortality and salary references from the state minimum wages notification, December 2021 via the Human Capital approach.
Results: During the study period, 387 patients were newly registered in the GI-GB department, out of which 141 patients were screened, followed up, and found 51 GBC-specific deaths, 44 patients had premature mortality among them 16 are males and 28 are females. In total, 990.60 years of potential productive life were lost on average, and productivity loss amounted to 1,331,258.27 USD. Mean value of YPPLL among males and females were found to be 24.87 and 21.16 years respectively. Mean productivity losses among males and females were estimated as 33,450.989 USD and 15,428.983 USD.
Conclusions: Given the number of premature deaths and associated productivity loss, Gallbladder cancer should be given priority by policymakers. Also, prevention and early detection programs should be promoted and implemented to significantly reduce premature mortality and productivity losses.
.jpg "Vijayasangeetha G, M.pharm (she/her/hers) photo")
