Agnes Brandtmüller , Anne Meiwald , Peter Toth , et al. J Med Econ 2026 Dec;29(1):785-798
Cancer imposes a substantial clinical and economic burden across Europe. This analysis estimated the lost productivity cost of the five cancer types with the highest premature mortality and five cancer types with the highest morbidity burden across 28 European countries in 2022. Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer, colon and rectum cancer, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers accounted for 899,581 deaths, 17,274,882 years of life lost (YLL), 896,510 years of productive life lost (YPLL), and €30,749,064,014 present value of future lost productivity (PVFLP) across Europe. Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer contributed the largest share of mortality-related productivity losses with 37.2% of deaths and 43.7% of PVFLP. Breast cancer had the highest PVFLP per death (€49,411). For morbidity, breast, prostate, colon and rectum cancer, tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma resulted in 993,648 YLD, 210,400 productive YLD (PYLD), and €9,087,096,712 VYLD. Germany, France, and United Kingdom were the largest contributors to both mortality and morbidity burdens. Cancer continues to exert a considerable productivity burden across Europe with substantial variation between countries. These findings highlight the need for equitable cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and timely access to treatment to reduce both health and economic disparities across Europe.
15 Apr, 2026