title: Economic burden of fire-related deaths in Finland, 2000-2010: Indirect costs using a human capital approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine the indirect economic burden of fire-related deaths in Finland in the period 2000-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Human Capital (HC) approach was the main method used to estimate productivity losses due to fire-related deaths. Additionally, Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) due to deaths were reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1090 fire-related deaths occurred in the period 2000-2010 within a population of some 5.4 million. The majority were male (76% vs 24%), with a mean age of 52 (CI: 51.0-53.2) years for males and 57 (CI: 54.6-59.6) for females; 24% (CI: 21.1-26.2%) of victims were over the retirement age. Most of the victims died of combustion gas poisoning (65%, CI: 61.8-67.6%), followed by burns (33%, CI: 30.6-36.3%). Alcohol was often involved and victims were often socially disadvantaged, with socioeconomic features significantly deviating from those of the general population. Annual PYLL ranged from 2094 (CI: 1861-2326) to 3299 (CI: 3008-3594), with an annual average PYLL of 2763 (CI: 2675-2851). PYLL per death fell in the study period from 34.3 (2000, CI: 31.0-37.7) to 24.6 (2010, CI: 21.8-27.6). The reduction is attributable to a decreasing fraction of young victims and an increase in average ages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total productivity loss in the period 2000-2010 was c.a. EUR 342 million (CI: 330-354 million), giving an annual average of EUR 31.1 million (CI: 30.0-32.2 million), with the mean for a victim being EUR 0.315 million (CI: 0.30-0.33 million). The economic burden of deaths is considerable and this study remedies the lack of academic knowledge about the burden of fire-related deaths.
authors.affiliation: MSc Welfare and Health Promotion Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166 P.O. Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: kari.haikonen@thl.fi.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haikonen
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland.
authors.forename: Pirjo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lillsunde
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lunetta
authors.affiliation: Emergency Services College, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kokki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D002056:Burns / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality*; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005390:Fires / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burn; Carbon monoxide poisoning; Cost; Economic burden; Fire; Human capital; Productivity loss