The indirect economic burden caused by premature mortality from lung cancer in Asia-Pacific countries; years of life lost and productivity costs

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer caused 2.2 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths globally in 2020, accounting for 11.4% of global cancer. In the Asia-Pacific (AP) region, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality, contributing to 60% of global lung cancer deaths. This study assesses the economic impact of premature lung cancer deaths in 12 AP countries with different economic profiles by estimating productivity losses. METHODS: The human capital approach was used to estimate productivity losses from premature lung cancer deaths (ICD-10 C33-34) across Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and India. Years of productive life lost (YPLL) and the present value of future lost productivity (PVFLP) were calculated based on age-specific mortality, wage, and employment data. Results were analyzed by grouping countries into high- and middle-income categories. FINDINGS: In 2019, 221,293 lung cancer deaths led to 617,574 YPLL and over $2.3 billion in productivity losses across the 12 AP countries. High-income countries experienced greater losses ($1.5 billion, $34,359 per death) compared to middle-income countries ($816 million, $4,660 per death). LIMITATIONS: The analysis excluded direct healthcare costs and productivity losses from morbidity and caregiver burden. Assumptions such as uniform labor force participation and mortality distribution may limit precision. INTERPRETATION: Lung cancer imposes a significant burden across the AP region, with economic disparities between high- and middle-income countries. Findings highlight the need for continued investment in prevention, early detection, and equitable access to treatment, especially in middle-income nations.