Costs of cancer attributable to excess body weight in the Brazilian public health system in 2018

Abstract

Objectives The prevalence of excess body weight (EBW) has increased over the last decades in Brazil, where 55.4% of the adult population was overweight in 2019. EBW is a well-known risk factor for several types of cancer. We estimated the federal cost of EBW-related cancers in adults, considering the medical expenditures in the Brazilian Public Health System. Methods We calculated the costs related to 11 types of cancer considering the procedures performed in 2018 by all organizations that provide cancer care in the public health system. We obtained data from the Hospital and Ambulatory Information Systems of the Brazilian Public Health System. We calculated the fractions of cancer attributable to EBW using the relative risks from the literature and prevalence from a nationally representative survey. We converted the monetary values in Reais (R$) to international dollars (Int$), considering the purchasing power parity (PPP) of 2018. Results In Brazil, the 2018 federal cost for all types of cancers combined was Int$ 1.73 billion, of which nearly Int$ 710 million was spent on EBW-related cancer care and Int$ 30 million was attributable to EBW. Outpatient and inpatient expenditures reached Int$ 20.41 million (of which 80% was for chemotherapy) and Int$ 10.06 million (of which 82% was for surgery), respectively. Approximately 80% of EBW-attributable costs were due to breast, endometrial and colorectal cancers. Conclusion A total of 1.76% of all federal cancer-related costs could be associated with EBW, representing a substantial economic burden for the public health system. We highlight the need for integrated policies for excess body weight control and cancer prevention.

The future costs of cancer attributable to excess body weight in Brazil, 2030-2040

“…Several country-wide comparative risk assessment studies have quantified the potential impact of EBW on cancer outcomes [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 18 – 20 ], including the economic burden of cancer [ 6 , 21 – 27 ]. In the last decade, costs of cancer attributable to EBW were US$ 43 million in Thailand [ 25 ] and US$ 47 million in Ireland [ 24 ].…”

“…More recently, an Italian cost-of-illness study estimated that EBW was responsible for €13.3 billion in 2020, of which €0.33 were due to direct and indirect costs of cancer [ 21 ]. In Brazil, a few studies have quantified the costs of cancer attributable to EBW in Brazil [ 6 , 22 , 23 ]. Direct costs of cancer attributable to EBW in Brazil have ranged from US$ 30 million [ 6 ] to US$ 83 million [ 23 ].…”

“…It is important to note that the prohibitive’ increase in cancer treatment costs is a concern. We previously estimated the current (2018) federal direct healthcare cost of cancer in the SUS attributable to EBW [ 6 ]. In 2018, the Brazilian federal direct healthcare costs of cancer were Int $1.7 billion, of which EBW was estimated to account for 1.8% or Int$ 30 million [ 6 ].…”

“…We previously estimated the current (2018) federal direct healthcare cost of cancer in the SUS attributable to EBW [ 6 ]. In 2018, the Brazilian federal direct healthcare costs of cancer were Int $1.7 billion, of which EBW was estimated to account for 1.8% or Int$ 30 million [ 6 ]. In addition to the current cost-of-illness attributable to EBW, quantifying the projected future economic burden of cancer attributable to EBW may inform the potential impact of policies and public health interventions.…”

Correspondência entre estado antropométrico, variáveis sociodemográficas e de estilo de vida em universitários

“…Em um estudo de coorte no Brasil, Padilha et al 13 concluíram que a obesidade parental possui efeito transgeracional no peso, ocasionando sobrepeso na prole enquanto crianças até a fase de vida adulta, a obesidade dos pais também foi um fator de risco para a prole apresentar asma quando adultos. Corrêa et al 14 ao estimarem o custo do governo com os cânceres relacionados ao excesso de peso em adultos, considerando os gastos médicos do Sistema Único de Saúde brasileiro encontraram que o custo federal de 2018 para todos os tipos de câncer combinados foi de US$ 1,73 bilhão, dos quais quase US$ 710 milhões foram gastos no tratamento do câncer relacionado ao excesso de peso corporal e US$ 30 milhões foram atribuíveis ao excesso de peso, portanto uma elevada carga econômica para o país.…”