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Are the Norwegian health research investments in line with the disease burden?

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The relationship between research funding across therapeutic areas and the burden of disease in Norway has not been investigated. Further, few studies have looked at the association between national research investments and the global disease burden. The aim of the present study was to analyze the correlation between a significant part of Norwegian investment in health research and the burden of disease across therapeutic areas, using both Norwegian and global burden of disease estimates. METHODS:We used research investment records for 2012 from the Research Council of Norway, and the investment records distributed through liaison committees between regional health authorities and universities. Both were classified by the Health Research Classification System (HRCS). Furthermore, we used the years of life lost and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for Norway and globally from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 project. We created a matrix to match the expenditures by HRCS with the values from the Global Burden of Disease project. RESULTS:Disease-specific research funding increased with the Norwegian burden of disease measured as years of life lost (correlation coefficient?=?0.73). Similar findings were done when the Norwegian disease burden was measured as DALYs (correlation coefficient?=?0.62). The correlation between research funding and the global disease burden was low both when years of life lost (correlation coefficient?=?0.11) and DALYs (correlation coefficient?=?0.12) were used. Generally, when the disease burden was relatively high in Norway compared with the rest of the world, research investments were also high. CONCLUSIONS:Across therapeutic areas, the Norwegian research investments appeared aligned with the Norwegian disease burden. The correlation between the Norwegian research investments and the global disease burden was much lower.

SUBMITTER: Kinge JM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4256793 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Are the Norwegian health research investments in line with the disease burden?

Kinge Jonas Minet JM Roxrud Ingrid I Vollset Stein Emil SE Skirbekk Vegard V Røttingen John-Arne JA

Health research policy and systems 20141127

<h4>Background</h4>The relationship between research funding across therapeutic areas and the burden of disease in Norway has not been investigated. Further, few studies have looked at the association between national research investments and the global disease burden. The aim of the present study was to analyze the correlation between a significant part of Norwegian investment in health research and the burden of disease across therapeutic areas, using both Norwegian and global burden of diseas ...[more]

PMID: 25427859

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Project description:BackgroundAllocation of health research funds among diseases has never been evaluated in China. This study aimed to examine the relationship between disease-specific funding levels of National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the main governmental resource for health research in China, and burden of disease.MethodsFunding magnitudes for 53 diseases or conditions were obtained from the website of NSFC. Measures of disease burden, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), were derived from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The relationship between NSFC funding and disease burden was analyzed with univariate linear regression. For each measure associated with funding, regression-derived estimates were used to calculate the expected funds for each disease. The actual and expected funds were then compared. We also evaluated the impacts of changes of disease burden metrics since 1990, and differences from the world averages on NSFC funding.ResultsNSFC health research funding was associated with disease burden measured in mortality (R = 0.33, P = 0.02), YLLs (R = 0.39, P = 0.004), and DALYs (R? = 0.40, P = 0.003). But none of the changes of mortality (R = 0.22, P = 0.12), YLLs (R =? -0.04, P = 0.79) and DALYs (R =? -0.003, P = 0.98) since 1990 was associated with the funding magnitudes. None of the differences of mortality (R =? -0.11, P = 0.45), YLLs (R =? -0.11, P = 0.43) and DALYs (R = ?-0.12, P = 0.38) from that of the concurrent world averages were associated with the funding magnitudes. Measured by DALY, stroke and COPD received the least funding compared to expected; while leukemia and diabetes received the most funding compared to expected.ConclusionAlthough NSFC funding were roughly associated with disease burden as measured in mortality, YLLs and DALYs. Some major diseases such as stroke were underfunded; while others such as leukaemia were overfunded. Change of disease burden during the last 20 years and country-specialized disease burden were not reflected in current allocation of NSFC funds.

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Project description:ObjectivesTo systematically categorise cancer research investment awarded to United Kingdom (UK) institutions in the period 2000-2013 and to estimate research investment relative to disease burden as measured by mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLDs).DesignSystematic analysis of all open-access data.Setting and participantsPublic and philanthropic funding to all UK cancer research institutions, 2000-2013.Main outcome measuresNumber and financial value of cancer research investments reported in 2013 UK pounds (UK£). Mortality, DALYs and YLDs data were acquired from the Global Burden of Disease Study. A compound metric was adapted to estimate research investment relative to disease burden as measured by mortality, DALYs and YLDs.ResultsWe identified 4299 funded studies with a total research investment of £2.4 billion. The highest fundings by anatomical sites were haematological, breast, prostate, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Relative to disease burden as determined by a compound metric combining mortality, DALYs and YLDs, gender-specific cancers were found to be highest funded-the five sites that received the most funding were prostate, ovarian, breast, mesothelioma and testicular cancer; the least well-funded sites were liver, thyroid, lung, upper gastrointestinal (GI) and bladder. Preclinical science accounted for 66.2% of award numbers and 62.2% of all funding. The top five areas of primary research focus by funding were pathogenesis, drug therapy, diagnostic, screening and monitoring, women's health and immunology. The largest individual funder was the Medical Research Council. In combination, the five lowest funded site-specific cancers relative to disease burden account for 47.9%, 44.3% and 20.4% of worldwide cancer mortality, DALYs and YLDs.ConclusionsResearch funding for cancer is not allocated according to relative disease burden. These findings are in line with earlier published studies. Funding agencies and industry should openly document their research investments to improve better targeting of research investment.

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Are the Norwegian health research investments in line with the disease burden?

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Are the Norwegian health research investments in line with the disease burden?

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