[Loss of labour productivity caused by premature mortality in Spain in 2005].

BACKGROUND Jointly with deaths, loss of quality of life and pain of patients and families, there are complementary indicators that help to reveal the social impact caused by illnesses and accidents. In the analysis, loss of labour productivity due to premature mortality in 2005 is estimated. The aim of this work is to estimate a part of the non health care costs caused by illnesses and accidents in the economy. METHODS A simulation model based in the human capital approach is developed using several available Spanish data bases (Death Registry According to Cause of Death, Structural Wage Survey, Labour Force Survey). RESULTS A loss of production up to 9,100 millions of Euros due to premature mortality is estimated in Spain for the base year. This figure is equivalent to a 1.01% of the Spanish Gross Domestic Product, or to an 18.25% of the Public Health Care Expenditure of 2005. CONCLUSIONS Premature mortality caused a very high labour cost.