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Comment
. 2023 Apr 1;9(4):465-472.
doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.7826.

Estimates and Projections of the Global Economic Cost of 29 Cancers in 204 Countries and Territories From 2020 to 2050

Simiao Chen  1   2 , Zhong Cao  3   4 , Klaus Prettner  5   6 , Michael Kuhn  5   7 , Juntao Yang  8 , Lirui Jiao  9 , Zhuoran Wang  2 , Weimin Li  10   11 , Pascal Geldsetzer  12 , Till Bärnighausen  1   2   13 , David E Bloom  13 , Chen Wang  2   14   15
Affiliations
Comment

Estimates and Projections of the Global Economic Cost of 29 Cancers in 204 Countries and Territories From 2020 to 2050

Simiao Chen et al. JAMA Oncol. .

Abstract

Importance: Cancers are a leading cause of mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million annual deaths worldwide, or 1 in 6 deaths. Cancers also negatively affect countries' economic growth. However, the global economic cost of cancers and its worldwide distribution have yet to be studied.

Objective: To estimate and project the economic cost of 29 cancers in 204 countries and territories.

Design, setting, and participants: A decision analytical model that incorporates economic feedback in assessing health outcomes associated with the labor force and investment. A macroeconomic model was used to account for (1) the association of cancer-related mortality and morbidity with labor supply; (2) age-sex-specific differences in education, experience, and labor market participation of those who are affected by cancers; and (3) the diversion of cancer treatment expenses from savings and investments. Data were collected on April 25, 2022.

Main outcomes and measures: Economic cost of 29 cancers across countries and territories. Costs are presented in international dollars at constant 2017 prices.

Results: The estimated global economic cost of cancers from 2020 to 2050 is $25.2 trillion in international dollars (at constant 2017 prices), equivalent to an annual tax of 0.55% on global gross domestic product. The 5 cancers with the highest economic costs are tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (15.4%); colon and rectum cancer (10.9%); breast cancer (7.7%); liver cancer (6.5%); and leukemia (6.3%). China and the US face the largest economic costs of cancers in absolute terms, accounting for 24.1% and 20.8% of the total global burden, respectively. Although 75.1% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, their share of the economic cost of cancers is lower at 49.5%. The relative contribution of treatment costs to the total economic cost of cancers is greater in high-income countries than in low-income countries.

Conclusions and relevance: In this decision analytical modeling study, the macroeconomic cost of cancers was found to be substantial and distributed heterogeneously across cancer types, countries, and world regions. The findings suggest that global efforts to curb the ongoing burden of cancers are warranted.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Macroeconomic Burden Due to Cancers From 2020 to 2050
INT$ indicates international dollars at constant 2017 prices.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Type of Cancer With the Largest Macroeconomic Cost in Each Country
TBL indicates tracheal, bronchus, and lung.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

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