The breast cancer related burden of morbidity and mortality in six European countries: The European Disability Weights project

Michelle E. Kruijshaar*, Jan J. Barendregt, the European Disability Weights Group

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background: The burden of breast cancer expressed in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) was compared for six European countries and its sensitivity to different sources of variation examined. Methods: DALYs were calculated using country-specific epidemiological data and European Disability Weights. Epidemiological data for 1996 were obtained for Denmark, England and Wales, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Disability weights were empirically derived. Results: Denmark and the Netherlands lost the largest number of DALYs (approximately 1100 DALYs per 100,000 women). They were followed by England (87% of the Danish burden), France (72%), Sweden (68%) and Spain (67%). 70 to 80% of the burden was caused by mortality. Cross-national variation in disease epidemiology was the largest source of variation in the burden of breast cancer. Variation in disability weights and uncertainty in epidemiological data had smaller effects. Conclusion: To compare the burden of breast cancer and most other types of cancer mortality rates provide sufficient information.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)141-146
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Public Health
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2004

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