OBJECTIVES: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a leading cause of various cancer types, including cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, penile, and head and neck cancers. Vaccination offers a means of preventing HPV and reducing HPV-related disease burden and associated costs. This analysis estimated mortality and indirect cost of HPV-related cancers that can be preventable through vaccination in Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Portugal.

METHODS: A previously published model which was populated with national mortality data was used to estimate the number of HPV-related deaths, years of life lost (YLL), and the present value of future lost productivity (PVFLP). The model included up to 11 HPV-related cancers (oropharynx, oral cavity, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, anal, larynx, vulval, vaginal, cervical, and penile), based on availability of country-specific data in Belgium (7 cancer types), Denmark (10 cancer types), Lithuania (11 cancer types), Portugal (11 cancer types), and Switzerland (11 cancer types) in 2019. The estimation of preventable deaths and YLL was based on applying previously published fractions of cancers attributable to HPV. To estimate economic burden associated with HPV-related cancers, presented as PVFLP, YLL was adjusted with labor-force participation, retirement age and multiplied by country-specific mean annual earnings, discounted at an annual rate of 3%.

RESULTS: In 2019, the number of deaths due to HPV-related cancers in Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Portugal, and Switzerland were 193, 178, 207, 378 and 184, respectively. These deaths contributed to 3532, 2382, 3109, 7088, and 3068 YLL. The economic burden expressed as PVFLP attributed to HPV-related cervical cancers amounted to €24,315,988 in Belgium, €20,716,310 in Denmark, €8,072,227 in Lithuania, €22,012,989 in Portugal, and €26,321,825 in Switzerland, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: HPV-related cancers are associated with substantial productivity and human losses across assessed European countries which could be prevented by the continued prioritization and implementation of public health measures such as HPV vaccination.