A recent report by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reveals that in 2023, approximately 1.44 million patients were treated in hospitals for cancer, a 2.4% increase from the previous year. This figure still lags behind the pre-COVID-19 level of 1.55 million in 2019. Cancer was the fifth most common reason for hospitalization, accounting for 8% of all inpatient treatments.
The majority of cancer patients, 55%, were between the ages of 60 and 79, followed by 20% in the 40-59 age group and 20% aged 80 or older. The proportion of patients under 40 was significantly lower, at 5%.
According to Destatis, the most common types of cancer treated in hospitals in 2023 were lung and bronchial cancer (12%), colorectal cancer (10%) and breast cancer (9%). Other common types of cancer included skin cancer (8%), bladder cancer (7%) and prostate cancer (7%). The number of hospitalizations for these types of cancer showed a general increase from the previous year, with the most significant rise seen in skin cancer, prostate cancer and bladder cancer.
Experts attribute the improved survival rates to advances in prevention, screening and treatment of cancer. While the number of cancer deaths has increased over the past 20 years, the rise is largely attributed to the aging of the population, according to the statistical office. The report shows that the number of cancer deaths in the age group of 80 and older increased by 64% over the past two decades, while the numbers decreased in the younger age groups, with the steepest decline seen in the under-40 age group.