[Cost of colorectal cancer in France in 1999].
OBJECTIVE
Due to high incidence and disease severity, colorectal cancer is a major public health concern in western countries. Few studies have been devoted to estimating its cost in France. The aim of this study was to analyze the direct (medical) and indirect (short-term disability, long-term disability, premature death) costs of colorectal cancer in France.


METHODS
This cost-of-illness study was based on data available for 1999. Two evaluation perspectives were considered: French social security system (medical care + daily allowances + disability allowances) and the society (medical care + production losses). Sources of data used in this analysis were: PMSI (hospital care), EPPM-IMS study (ambulatory care) and the GAZEL cohort (short-term disability).


RESULTS
Direct costs of colorectal cancer in France amounted in 1999 to more than 469.7 million euros, of which 98% were induced by hospitalisation (on an outpatient or an inpatient basis). Indirect costs represented in 1999 for the French social security system an amount of 85.9 million, of which 71% were due to disability allowances. Taking into account the society's point of view, indirect costs corresponded to production losses of 528.1 million. Total costs of colorectal cancer amounted 555.5 million for the social security system and 997 million for the society.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the high economic burden of colorectal cancer for the French social security system and for the society in general.
Selke
Bernard
B
Centre de Recherches Economiques, Sociologiques et de Gestion, Lille. bselke@cresge.fr
Durand
Isabelle
I
Marissal
Jean-Pierre
JP
Chevalier
Delphine
D
Lebrun
Thérèse
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010415:Pensions; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013997:Time Factors