Global welfare burden of hematologic malignancies from 2015 to 2023

Hematologic malignancies cause premature mortality and disability across the life course, but their welfare burden is difficult to compare across countries. We monetized global burden of disease (GBD) 2023 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for major hematologic malignancies in 188 countries from 2015 to 2023 using a value of lost welfare framework incorporating purchasing power parity adjusted gross domestic product (GDP), income transfer, age-specific valuation, and discounting. Global leukemia-related value of lost welfare (VLW) increased from US$1.40 trillion to US$1.70 trillion, while VLW/GDP declined from 1.89% to 1.62%. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma contributed the largest absolute welfare loss, and acute myeloid leukemia accounted for the largest share within leukemia. Country-level VLW/GDP was highest in selected middle-income and small-economy settings, and age-specific VLW peaked at 60 to 64 years. VLW/GDP provides a standardized welfare burden indicator that complements epidemiological and health system cost metrics.