Macroeconomic burden of tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancers in Asia
- 1Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
- 2Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- 3Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Hohhot, China
Abstract
Background: Although Asia shoulders a considerable burden of tracheal, bronchial, and lung (TBL) cancers, the associated macroeconomic impact has yet to be adequately investigated.
Methods: Using 2023 data from the Global Burden of Disease Study and the World Bank, we applied the value of a statistical life year (VSLY) method to estimate the economic welfare losses attributable to TBL cancers in Asian countries. We further analyzed the temporal trends, sex and age-specific disparities, and the drivers of economic inequality and projected the burden trends to 2050.
Results: In Asia, the value of lost welfare (VLW) due to these cancers reached USD 3.28 (95% UI, 2.6301–4.0572) trillion, equivalent to 4.18% (95% UI, 3.35–5.17) of the regional GDP. Temporal trend analyses revealed a consistent upward trajectory in both absolute VLW and its GDP share. Sex-stratified analyses showed that the burden was significantly higher in male populations, and age-specific peaks occurred at 70–74 years for both sexes. Health inequality metrics indicated a pronounced widening of relative disparities over time. Projection models forecast a continued increase in absolute VLW, whereas its proportional contribution to GDP is expected to plateau.
Conclusion: These findings establish that TBL cancers impose a substantial and inequitably distributed macroeconomic burden across Asia. The pronounced sex and region-specific disparities underscore the urgent need for evidence-based, geographically targeted intervention strategies. Prioritizing the targeted deployment of resources in high-burden zones is critical to mitigating economic losses and improving survival outcomes in the region.
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BibTeX
@article{chen2026macroeconomic,
title = {{Macroeconomic burden of tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancers in Asia}},
author = {Long Chen and Haoyang Hu and Jiuhe Wang and Jinglian Qu},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1943102},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1943102},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Macroeconomic burden of tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancers in Asia
AU - Long Chen
AU - Haoyang Hu
AU - Jiuhe Wang
AU - Jinglian Qu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1943102
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1943102
AB - Background: Although Asia shoulders a considerable burden of tracheal, bronchial, and lung (TBL) cancers, the associated macroeconomic impact has yet to be adequately investigated. Methods: Using 2023 data from the Global Burden of Disease Study and the World Bank, we applied the value of a statistical life year (VSLY) method to estimate the economic welfare losses attributable to TBL cancers in Asian countries. We further analyzed the temporal trends, sex and age-specific disparities, and the drivers of economic inequality and projected the burden trends to 2050. Results: In Asia, the value of lost welfare (VLW) due to these cancers reached USD 3.28 (95% UI, 2.6301–4.0572) trillion, equivalent to 4.18% (95% UI, 3.35–5.17) of the regional GDP. Temporal trend analyses revealed a consistent upward trajectory in both absolute VLW and its GDP share. Sex-stratified analyses showed that the burden was significantly higher in male populations, and age-specific peaks occurred at 70–74 years for both sexes. Health inequality metrics indicated a pronounced widening of relative disparities over time. Projection models forecast a continued increase in absolute VLW, whereas its proportional contribution to GDP is expected to plateau. Conclusion: These findings establish that TBL cancers impose a substantial and inequitably distributed macroeconomic burden across Asia. The pronounced sex and region-specific disparities underscore the urgent need for evidence-based, geographically targeted intervention strategies. Prioritizing the targeted deployment of resources in high-burden zones is critical to mitigating economic losses and improving survival outcomes in the region.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -