title: The Economic Burden of Breast Cancer in Korea from 2007-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study estimates the socioeconomic cost and burden for breast cancer patients in Korea between 2007 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a prevalence-based approach to estimate the cost of breast cancer. Breast cancer patients were defined as those who were hospitalized or have visited an outpatient clinic during the period from 2007 to 2010. The socioeconomic costs of breast cancer were subdivided into two costs: direct and indirect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2007 to 2010, the prevalence of treated breast cancer increased from 7.9% to 20.4%. The total socioeconomic costs incurred by breast cancer increased by approximately 40.7% from US $668.49 million in 2007 to US $940.75 million in 2010. The direct medical care costs for 2010 were 1.4 times greater (US $399.22 million) than for 2007 (US $278.71 million). The direct non-medical costs rose from US $50.69 million in 2007 to US $75.83 million in 2010, a 49.6% increase. Regarding the economic burden of breast cancer, the total indirect costs were US $339.09 million in 2007 and increased by 37.3% to US $465.70 million in 2010. In the sensitivity analysis, with the annual discount rate for each year ranging from 0%-5%, the costs increased 1.1-1.2 times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the growing incidence of breast cancer, the annual prevalence and related costs are increasing. We must strive to reduce the socioeconomic burden of breast cancer through preventive measures and early screening.
authors: Cancer Policy Branch, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.|Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Young Ae
authors: YA
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: In-Hwan
authors: IH
authors: Oh
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seok-Jun
authors: SJ
authors: Yoon
authors: Rehabilitation Research Institute, Korea National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyun-Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hye-Young
authors: HY
authors: Seo
authors: Department of Economics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eun-Jung
authors: EJ
authors: Kim
authors: Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yo Han
authors: YH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jae Hun
authors: JH
authors: Jung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Breast neoplasms; Cost of illness