Association Between Breast Cancer Disease Progression and Workplace Productivity in the United States. Issue 2 (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yin, Wesley; Horblyuk, Ruslan; Perkins, Julia Jane; Sison, Steve; Smith, Greg; Snider, Julia Thornton; Wu, Yanyu; Philipson, Tomas J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 59:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 198
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000936
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract : Objective: Determine workplace productivity losses attributable to breast cancer progression. Methods: Longitudinal analysis linking 2005 to 2012 medical and pharmacy claims and workplace absence data in the US patients were commercially insured women aged 18 to 64 diagnosed with breast cancer. Productivity was measured as employment status and total quarterly workplace hours missed, and valued using average US wages. Results: Six thousand four hundred and nine women were included. Breast cancer progression was associated with a lower probability of employment (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.65, P < 0.01) and increased workplace hours missed. The annual value of missed work was $24, 166 for non-metastatic and $30, 666 for metastatic patients. Thus, progression to metastatic disease is associated with an additional $6500 in lost work time ( P < 0.05), or 14% of average US wages. Conclusions: Breast cancer progression leads to diminished likelihood of employment, increased workplace hours missed, and increased cost burden.