Pancreatic cancer mortality and associated productivity losses in Spain: A population-based estimate (2013-2022)

Pancreatic cancer remains as the cancer type with the poorest prognosis, characterized by rising incidence and mortality rates. This disease imposes a substantial economic burden, including productivity losses resulting from premature mortality.

This study aims to estimate productivity losses due to premature deaths from pancreatic cancer in Spain during the period 2013-2022.

Productivity costs were quantified using a simulation model based on the human capital method. Data on mortality rates, average salaries, and employment rates were obtained from the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadística for the entire study period.

Between 2013 and 2022, the number of deaths due to pancreatic cancer in Spain increased from 6039 to 7973 and, by 2022, pancreatic cancer became the leading cause of death among digestive system tumours. This rise was accompanied by an increase in Years of Potential Labour Productive Life Lost due to premature death (YPLPLL): for men, YPLPLL grew from 8146 in 2013 to 9650 in 2022, and for women, from 4699 to 6053 over the same period. Consequently, labour productivity losses were estimated at €253.40 million in 2013, rising to €406.20 million in 2022, with a cumulative cost of €3253.97 million during the study period.

These findings provide valuable insights into the societal costs of pancreatic cancer in Spain. Investments in targeted strategies focusing on prevention, early detection, and advanced-stage therapies for pancreatic cancer have the potential to significantly reduce its future economic and health impacts.