OBJECTIVES

Global Burden of Disease study found strong evidence that residential radon and bone lead cause lung cancer and chronic kidney disease (CKD), respectively. We aimed to estimate the potential productivity years of life lost (PPYLL) related to deaths caused by these environmental risk factors in Colombia, 2016

METHODS

PPYLL related to deaths caused by residential radon and bone lead were estimated. Deaths records from DANE-2016 were analyzed for CKD and lung cancer, 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 studied: lower loss (minimum legal wage), average loss [one per capita gross domestic product (GDPpc)] and higher loss (three GDPpc). The fractions attributable to each risk factor were estimated from systematic reviews and multiplied by the years of life lost per disease caused by the mentioned environmental risk factors. Costs were reported in American dollars: 1USD=3,000.7 Colombian Pesos.

RESULTS

The estimate of attributable fraction of lung cancer related deaths linked to residential radon was 11,3%; the total of YPLLs for this cause were 8.469, from which 976 were attributable to the risk factor and the economic burden related to this was USD6,297,057 (3,307,345-8,891,171). For CKD deaths caused by the presence of bone lead levels, the attributable fraction was 3,3%. The total YPLLs for this cause were 6.446, 200 were attributable to the risk factor. The economic burden due to this was USD1,311,136 (688,636-3,933,408).

CONCLUSIONS

The direct medical costs related to the care of the analyzed diseases and the out-of-pocket expenditures assumed by the families would complement the economic burden estimated in this study. Lung cancer generates more YPLLs due to premature death than CKD and, proportionally, a greater economic burden attributable to the exposure of the analyzed environmental risk factors.