Burden, economic impact and research gaps. - 22

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BURDEN, ECONOMIC IMPACT AND RESEARCH GAPS: KEY FINDINGS FROM THE PAN-EUROPEAN STUDY ON DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND CANCERS
The Economic Burden
of Digestive Diseases
Across Europe, the economic burden associated with digestive diseases is substantial,
with significant costs arising from both within and outside the health system.
On average, the estimated costs of inpatient
health service delivery (excluding treatment and
diagnostics) as a percentage of gross domestic
product (GDP) was 0.12% across the 31 countries
investigated, translating to a potential cost of
approximately €25.3 billion in 2019 alone.
At a country level, Germany, Austria and Greece
experienced the highest estimated cost of inpatient
health service delivery for digestive health as a
percentage of GDP.
With regards to indirect costs, referring to the cost
of lost output due to morbidity and premature
mortality, the impact was even greater, amounting
to €89 billion, or 0.47%, of GDP.
Of these costs, Italy, the United Kingdom and
Serbia carried the heaviest burden with regards to
the economic cost of lost output due to digestive
disease-related morbidity as a percentage of GDP.
Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania had the highest
costs in relation to lost output due to digestive
disease-related premature mortality.
Importantly, the costs examined here are expected
to be heightened further when considering the
burden of digestive cancers, which were not
investigated in this study but warrant further
attention to provide a full picture of the true burden
of digestive diseases and cancers.

Burden, economic impact and research gaps.

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