Productivity Burden of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Australia: A Life Table Modelling Study

Si Si, Kate Lewkowski, Lin Fritschi, Jane Heyworth, Danny Liew and Ian Li
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Si Si: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
Kate Lewkowski: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia
Lin Fritschi: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia
Jane Heyworth: School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Danny Liew: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-9

Abstract: Background: Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is one of the most common yet preventable occupational diseases. The aim of this study was to estimate the economic burden of ONIHL in the Australian working population by quantifying and monetising ONIHL—related loss of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) and Productivity Adjusted Life Years (PALYs). Methods: We simulated the number of moderate-to-severe ONIHL by multiplying the age-specific prevalence of occupational noise exposure by the excess risks of ONIHL. Life table modelling was applied to workers with ONIHL. The QALY and PALY weights attributable to hearing loss were sourced from published data. The 2016 Gross Domestic Product per full-time equivalent worker in Australia was used to estimate the cost of productivity loss due to ONIHL. The cost due to the loss of well-being was quantified using willingness to pay thresholds derived from an Australian longitudinal study. Results: Under current occupational noise exposure levels in Australia, we estimated that over 80,000 male workers and over 31,000 female workers would develop ONIHL over 10 years of exposure. Following this cohort until the age of 65 years, the estimated loss of QALYs and PALYs were 62,218 and 135,561 respectively, with a projected loss of AUD 5.5 billion and AUD 21.3 billion due to well-being and productivity loss, respectively. Reducing noise exposure at work would substantially reduce the economic burden of ONIHL. Conclusion: ONIHL imposes substantial burden on Australian economy. Interventions to reduce occupational noise exposure are warranted.

Keywords: occupational noise exposure; hearing loss; economic evaluation; Australia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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