Economic losses due to oncologic diseases related to modifiable risk factors

As per data provided by the WHO, about one third of death cases due to cancer are caused by risk factors that can be modified. Also, according to data provided by several authors, 4 modifiable risk factors cause 70% of malignant neoplasm cases that could have been prevented. Malignant neoplasms occupy the 2nd rank place in mortality structure in the Russian Federation. A significant share of analyzed malignant neoplasms can potentially be prevented provided that risk factors are corrected; therefore, investments into prevention should be a core in any activity aimed at public health improvement. Our goal was to evaluate economic losses that occurred due to most common oncologic diseases related to behavioral risk factors among population in Russia in 2016 (including costs borne by the public healthcare and losses in the economy). Our analysis comprised direct expenses borne by the public healthcare or, in other words, money spent on oncologic diseases treatment, direct funds allocated to pay disability allowances and temporary disability payments as well as indirect losses in the economy associated with untimely deaths and disability among employable population...