[Analysis of regional differences in the indirect economic burden of cancer in populations in China, 2020].

Objective: To understand the regional differences in the indirect economic burden of cancer in populations in China. Methods: The indirect economic burden of cancer in 31 provinces was measured using disability-adjusted life year data and a human capital approach. Data were sourced from open databases, including literature, the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, the International Labour Organization, the National Census, and the China Statistical Yearbook. The main analysis utilized the annual per capita wage income of residents in urban and rural areas of China in 2020, as well as in each province, for monetization purposes. The coefficient of variation (CV) was applied to assess the regional disparities. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for key economic parameters. Results: The total indirect economic burden of cancer in China in 2020 was approximately 747.40 billion Yuan, accounting for 0.74% of the local gross domestic product (GDP) for the same year, of which 503.53 billion Yuan (67.37%) was higher for men than 243.87 billion Yuan (32.63%) for women. The top five cancer types by economic burden were lung cancer (221.71 billion Yuan), liver cancer (118.90 billion Yuan), stomach cancer (76.01 billion Yuan), colorectal cancer (58.05 billion Yuan), and esophageal cancer (41.71 billion Yuan). The indirect economic burden of cancer across 31 provinces varied from 0.82 billion Yuan to 78.45 billion Yuan, with a CV of 0.89 (ranging from 0.42% to 1.05% of the corresponding gross regional product); when the national per capita GDP was used for monetization, the provincial estimates increased to (5.01-250.43) billion Yuan, with a CV of 0.73. Conclusions: The indirect economic burden of cancer in populations in China is substantial and should not be overlooked. Regional disparities in this burden are largely influenced by local economic conditions and the specific methodologies applied.