Research on the economic consequences of leukemia at the global, regional and national

Background: Understanding the global, regional, and national macroeconomic losses caused by leukemia is essential for the effective allocation of clinical and research resources. This study investigates the macroeconomic consequences of the burden of leukemia across 194 countries in 2021. Method: Data on leukemia and its subtypes (Acute lymphoid leukemia, Acute myeloid leukemia, Chronic lymphoid leukemia) were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study database. Disability-adjusted life year (DALY) data for Chronic myeloid leukemia and Other leukemia were also collected. Gross domestic product (GDP, adjusted for purchasing power parity [PPP]) data were sourced from the World Bank. By combining GDP with DALY data, the value of welfare loss (VLW) method was employed to estimate macroeconomic losses. All results are presented in 2021 international dollars (adjusted for PPP). Result: In 2021, global macroeconomic losses due to leukemia totaled $24.164 billion, equivalent to 0.02% of global gross domestic product (GDP). The breakdown of losses by leukemia subtype was as follows: Acute lymphoid leukemia ($2.837 billion), Chronic lymphoid leukemia ($13.238 billion), Acute myeloid leukemia ($5.692 billion), Chronic myeloid leukemia ($815 million), and Other leukemia ($1.581 billion). East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania experienced the highest proportion of GDP lost to leukemia (0.102%). Among regions affected by Acute lymphoid leukemia, South Asia had the highest proportion of GDP loss (0.002%). For Chronic lymphoid leukemia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, along with South Asia, had the highest GDP loss proportion (0.05%). Latin America and the Caribbean suffered the greatest GDP loss proportion (0.002%) due to Acute myeloid leukemia. North Africa and the Middle East experienced the highest proportion of GDP loss (0.0004%) attributable to Chronic myeloid leukemia. Finally, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania incurred the largest GDP loss proportion (0.001%) from Other leukemia. Conclusion: The global macroeconomic loss attributed to leukemia exceeds $24 billion annually. Despite the relatively modest total amount, the economic burden remains significant given the low prevalence of leukemia. As populations age, this burden is expected to increase. Global, regional, and country-specific estimates provide valuable insights for region-specific resource allocation, primary prevention strategies, and priority setting. These findings underscore the necessity of enhancing leukemia prevention and control policies and ensuring adequate investment in and rational allocation of medical resources.