The global burden of 29 cancer groups from 2010 to 2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019.

Abstract

10577 Background: Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and global efforts to reduce health loss from cancer require systematic estimates that can measure progress from national to global levels. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019), we examined global cancer burden in order to highlight areas where cancer burden is inequitably distributed and to inform cancer control efforts around the world. Methods: Using estimation methods from GBD 2019, we analyzed the incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 29 cancer groups and 204 countries and territories from 2010 to 2019. Cancer burden was compared to health burden from other categories of diseases and injuries in the GBD. Results were assessed globally and by socio-demographic index (SDI), a summary measure of income per capita, average educational attainment, and total fertility rate. Point estimates and 95% Uncertainty Intervals (UIs) are reported. Results: There were 23.6 million (95% UI 22.2-24.9 million) incident cancer cases globally in 2019 (17.2 [15.9-18.5] million excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), and 10.0 (9.36-10.6) million cancer deaths. There were 250 (235-264) million DALYs globally due to cancer, 97% of which came from years of life lost. The leading five cancers by DALYs in 2019 were: tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (45.9 [42.3-49.3] million); colon and rectum cancer (24.3 [22.6-25.7] million); stomach cancer (22.2 [20.3-24.1] million); breast cancer (20.6 [19.0-22.2] million; and liver cancer (12.5 [11.4-13.7] million). Compared to other diseases and injuries in the GBD, cancer was responsible for the second-highest number of deaths, YLLs, and DALYs globally in 2019. These rankings of cancer burden differed by SDI quintile: cancer was the leading cause of absolute DALYs in high SDI countries but was ranked 10th in low SDI countries. From 2010-2019, the number of global cancer cases increased by 26.3% (20.3-32.3%), deaths by 20.9% (14.2-27.6%), and DALYs by 16.0% (9.29-22.8%). The largest annualized rate of change in absolute cases and deaths over this period occurred in the low and low-middle SDI quintiles. Conclusions: Cancer cases and deaths are growing globally, with the largest relative growth over the last decade occurring in low to middle SDI countries. Improvements in cancer prevention efforts and ensuring access to timely diagnosis and care will be necessary to make equitable progress in reducing the global burden of cancer.