The indirect costs of systemic autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and sarcoidosis: a summary of 2012 real-life data from the Social Insurance Institution in Poland.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and sarcoidosis are three different autoimmune systemic diseases that generate a significant burden to society due to treatment costs and also those caused by a work disability or absenteeism among patients. Relevant 2012 data referring to the three components of absenteeism produced by autoimmune systemic diseases, sick leave, short-term and long-term work disability, were obtained from the Social Insurance Institution in Poland (PSII). By applying the Human Capital Approach using gross domestic product per capita, gross value added per worker and gross income per worker in 2012, total indirect costs for the diseases were calculated. All costs were presented in euros and were valid for 2012. The PSII recorded 1600 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 500 patients with systemic sclerosis and 2700 patients with sarcoidosis in the 2012 - total indirect costs were as high as 7,260,595, 2,268,571 and 4,027,575 EUR, respectively. Costs were estimated using gross domestic product per capita; 17,485,412, 5,463,312 and 9,699,455 EUR, accordingly, calculated using gross value added per worker and 5,346,933, 1,670,648 and 2,966,034 EUR estimated using gross income per worker, respectively. Considering only data on absenteeism gathered by the PSII we can conclude that the three autoimmune systemic diseases bore great indirect costs. Their social burden for Poland could be even greater when considering presenteeism as well as other components of absenteeism such as loss of unpaid work, a gray economy or loss of leisure time.