The Economic Burden of Cancers Attributable to Metabolic Syndrome in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
Metabolic syndrome is an important etiologic factor in the development of certain types of cancers. The economic cost of the treatment of cancer has been steadily increasing. We therefore estimated the economic burden of cancers attributable to metabolic syndrome in Korea.


METHODS
We reviewed metabolic syndrome-related cancers and relative risk and then calculated population attributable fractions. We analyzed insurance claims data for metabolic syndrome-related cancers in 2012 in order to estimate the direct costs associated with these cancers, including hospitalization, outpatient visits, transportation costs, and caregivers' costs as well as indirect costs such as loss of productivity due to cancer treatment and premature death.


RESULTS
In 2012, 18,070 patients in Korea had cancers attributable to metabolic syndrome. The economic burden was USD 199.8 million and the direct and indirect costs were USD 124.5 million and USD 75.3 million, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We estimated the economic burden of cancers attributable to metabolic syndrome in Korea and the efforts are necessary to reduce this burden.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Dongwoo
D
Kim
Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seok-Jun
SJ
Yoon
Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Young-Hoon
YH
Gong
Cancer Policy Branch, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
Young Ae
YA
Kim
Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Hye-Young
HY
Seo
Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Jihyun
J
Yoon
Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
A-Rim
AR
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk
Economic burden; Metabolic syndrome; Neoplasm