The productivity losses due to cancer mortality and morbidity in 13 Asia-Pacific geographies across 2010, 2015, 2019, and 2022

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a major health and economic burden in the Asia-Pacific region, with significant disparities between countries. This study aimed to quantify productivity losses for the five cancers with high mortality and morbidity burden across 13 Asia-Pacific geographies. METHODS: Productivity losses were calculated for high-income geographies (HIGs) and middle-income geographies (MIGs) for 2010, 2015, 2019, and 2022. Tracheal, bronchus, lung, stomach, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer were included. HIGs comprised of Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. MIGs included India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Data on deaths, Years of Life Lost (YLL), and Years Lived with Disability (YLD) were sourced from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Years of Productive Life Lost (YPLL), Present Value of Future Lost Productivity (PVFLP), Productive YLD (PYLD), and Value of YLD (VYLD) were estimated using retirement age, average wage, labor force participation, and unemployment rate. Linear regression evaluated temporal trends, and a deterministic sensitivity analysis assessed the impact of variations in model inputs. RESULTS: In HIGs, cancer deaths increased from 2010 (411,651) to 2022 (468,480). YLLs remained steady with PVFLP dropping from $12.3 billion to $10.1 billion. YLD rose from 466,498 to 553,782, while VYLD was stable at $2.9 billion. In MIGs deaths increased from 753,961 to 1,113,815, YLL from 24,615,518 to 35,018,065, and YLD from 436,749 to 750,609. PVFLP rose from $2.6 billion to $3.2 billion, and VYLD from $238.1 million to $360.3 million. Regression analysis showed a decline in YLL per death across income categories. YLD per incidence case decreased in HIGs but increased in MIGs. CONCLUSION: Disparities between HIGs and MIGs are widening, with MIGs showing greater morbidity and productivity losses. Investment in prevention, early detection, and equitable treatment are needed.