Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes 16 and 18 are established as the cause of several clinically significant conditions. However, there are yet no published studies estimating the societal costs of HPV related diseases for both genders in Sweden. Objectives: This study aims to estimate the total societal cost associated with cervical dysplasia, invasive cervical cancer, cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus penis and head and neck (oropharyngeal cancer) attributable to HPV 16 and 18 in 2006, one year before introduction of HPV vaccine in Sweden.
Methods: This is an ongoing investigative report for which we used a prevalence based cost-of-illness (COI) approach. National registry diagnosis-specific data were used to estimate disease prevalence, resource utilization for inpatient and outpatient care and related direct and indirect costs.
Results: Preliminary results show that the total societal cost of HPV related diseases was estimated at €113 million (€12 per inhabitant), of which €41 million (€4/inhabitant) was health care services costs and €73 million (€8/inhabitant) was loss of productivity due to morbidity (early retirement and sick leave) and mortality (premature death). Costs due to premature death amounted to approximately €40 million (35% of the total cost). Resource utilization in inpatient care amounted to 24% of the total cost. Cervical cancer was the most costly cancer diagnoses with a total societal cost of €60 million. For cancer diagnosis affecting both genders, the societal cost of head and neck cancer was the most costly diagnosis with €19 million of which 70% of the total cost was linked to males.
Conclusion: The annual societal cost for HPV related cancer diseases is substantial and constitutes a major public health issue. The societal cost of oropharyngeal cancer carried by males were found to be cost drivers relevant for future decisions about including males into the national HPV school vaccination program.