OBJECTIVES To estimate economic costs related to productivity loss due to premature mortality caused by water, sanitation and hygiene risk factors in Colombia, 2016.

METHODS Potential productivity years of life lost (PPYLL) related to deaths caused by environmental risk factors of water, sanitation and hygiene were estimated. Deaths records from DANE were analyzed with the following causes of death related to water quality (nine risk factors), sanitation (sewage) and hygiene (hand washing): lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and diarrheal diseases, according to ICD-10. PPYLL were valued considering the productive age in Colombia, which ranges from 18-57 years for women and up to 62 for men. Three scenarios were considered: lower loss (minimum legal wage), average loss [one per capita gross domestic product (GDPpc)] and higher loss (three GDPpc). PPYLL for the above mentioned were multiplied by the fraction attributable to each risk factor, which were estimated from IRCA, the National Survey of Quality of Life 2016 and systematic reviews. Costs were reported in American dollars: 1USD=3,000.7 Colombian Pesos.

RESULTS Economic burden due to premature deaths caused by diarrheal diseases was $31,306,970 (16,443,074-93,920,910) in 2016, 74.9% was caused by water, sanitation and hygiene risk factors. For LRTI, economic burden was $244,682,479 (128,512,347-734,047,437), and the non-washing of hands explains the 6.4% of this burden. From the $23.4 million of the economic burden attributable to the environmental risk factors of water related to diarrheal diseases, 22.7% are due to improved water pipeline with no treatment. Another factor that contributes 17.3% of this economic burden is the non-hand washing. Likewise, not having a sewerage service causes 17.0% of the economic burden.

CONCLUSIONS Estimating the economic burden of disease from water, sanitation and hygiene in Colombia establish a baseline to inform stakeholders. Improving the exposure of these environmental risk factors could save $117.4 million per year.