Abstract
Objective
This study was conducted to provide the financial underpinnings necessary for effective
planning for the provision of eye health services in Canada. Canada is facing an aging
demographic and all the major eye diseases are diseases associated with aging. It
is essential that we have information based on the best available data to support
national and provincial vision health plans.
Design
The design associated with the prevalence-based approach used in this study was outlined
previously in detail in The Cost of Vision Loss in Canada: Methodology.
Methods
The methods associated with the prevalence-based approach used in this study were
previously outlined in detail in The Cost of Vision Loss in Canada: Methodology.
Results
The financial cost of VL in Canada in 2007 was estimated to be $15.8 billion per annum:
$8.6 billion (54.6%) represents direct health system expenditure; $4.4 billion (28.0%)
was productivity lost due to lower employment, higher absenteeism, and premature death
of Canadians with VL; $1.8 billion (11.1%) was the dead weight losses (DWL) from transfers
including welfare payments and taxation forgone; $0.7 billion (4.4%) was the value
of the care for people with VL; $305 million (1.9%) was other indirect costs such
as aids and home modifications and the bring forward of funeral costs. Additionally,
the value of the lost well-being (disability and premature death) was estimated at
a further $11.7 billion. In per capita terms, this amounts to a financial cost of
$19370 per person with VL per annum. Including the value of lost well-being, the cost
is $33704 per person per annum.
Conclusions
There is a growing awareness in Canada and around the world of the impact of VL on
health costs and on the economy in general. This awareness is supported by the growing
number of independent studies on the cost of vision loss both nationally and globally.
Because most of these studies are limited by the minimal amount of available data,
the overall cost of vision loss is likely underestimated. Nevertheless, this study
reports the cost of vision loss in Canada as being greater than previously reported,
making the problem even more urgent to address. A comprehensive national vision health
plan, that is a coordinated federal, provincial and territorial initiative dealing
with all aspects of vision loss prevention, sight restoration, and vision rehabilitation
is called for.
Résumé
Objet
Présentation des résultats de notre étude sur les coûts de la perte visuelle (PV)
au Canada. Cette étude a pour objet de mieux comprendre la nécessité des soutiens
financiers pour planifier efficacement la provision de services de soins oculaires
au pays.
Nature et Méthodes
La nature et les méthodes associées à une approche fondée sur la prévalence ayant
servi à cette étude sont décrites à l’annexe 1.
Résultats
Le coût de la PV au Canada a été estimé en 2007 à 15,8 milliards de dollars par année
: 8,6 milliards (54,6 %) représentent les dépenses directes du régime de santé; 4,4
milliards (28,0 %), la perte globale de productivité due à la baisse d’emplois, à
la hausse de l’absentéisme et au décès prématuré des Canadiens suite à la PV; 1,8
milliard (11,1 %), les pertes sèches (PS) allant des transferts de paiement de bien-être
à la taxation; 0,7 milliard (4,4 %), la valeur des soins pour les gens ayant une PV;
305 millions (1,9 %), les autres coûts indirects, tels les frais d’aide et de modification
aux domiciles ainsi que l’ajout des frais funéraires. En outre, la valeur du bien-être
perdu (invalidité et décès prématuré) a été estimée à un autre 11,7 milliards. Per
capita, la somme des coûts financiers est annuellement de 19 370 $ par personne ayant
une perte visuelle. Avec valeur du bien-être perdu, le coût s’élève à 33 704 $ par
personne par année.
Conclusion
La sensibilisation concernant l’impact de la PV sur les coûts de la santé et l’économie
s’accroît au Canada et dans le monde. Cela est soutenu par le nombre croissant d’études
indépendantes sur le coût de la perte visuelle. Comme la plupart de ces études sont
limitées par la faible quantité de données disponibles, le coût global de la perte
visuelle est vraisemblablement sous-estimé. Néanmoins, cette étude signale que le
coût de la perte visuelle au Canada est plus élevé qu’auparavant, rendant l’étude
du problème encore plus urgente. Un plan national et global sur la santé oculaire,
axé sur la prévention de la perte visuelle sous tous ses aspects, sur la restauration
de la vie et la réadaptation visuelle s’impose.
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References
- The Cost of Vision Loss in Canada.1. Methodology, Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2011; 46: 310-314
- The cost of vision loss in Canada.Canberra. 2008;
- Economic burden of bilateral neovascular age related macular degeneration: multi-country observational study.Pharmacoeconomics. 2008; 26: 57-73
- National Health Expenditures data base.(Accessed 2008)
- National Grouping System Categories Report 2004-05. 2007;
- The prevalence of low vision and blindness in Canada.Eye. 2006; 20: 341-346
- Population Projections for Canada, Provinces and Territories 2005-2031.(Cat No 91-520-XIE) Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario2006
- Participation and Activity Limitation Survey. Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario2006
Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 18,
2011
Received in revised form:
March 3,
2011
Received:
December 3,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
