(HealthDay News) — The global burden of cancer is considerable and increased from 2010 to 2019, with the burden varying by sociodemographic index (SDI), according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Oncology.
Jonathan M. Kocarnik, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues estimated cancer burden and trends globally for 204 countries and territories using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019) estimation methods and by SDI quintiles from 2010 to 2019.
The researchers identified an estimated 23.6 million new cancer cases and 10.0 million cancer deaths globally in 2019, with 250 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) estimated due to cancer. These represented increases of 26.3, 20.9, and 16.0 percent in new cases, deaths, and DALYs, respectively, since 2010. In 2019, cancer was second only to cardiovascular diseases for the number of deaths, years of life lost, and DALYs among 22 groups of diseases and injuries in the GBD 2019 Study. The burden of cancer varied across SDI quintiles. The highest number of new cases in 2019 occurred in the high SDI quintile, while the middle quintile had the highest number of cancer deaths and DALYs. The largest percentage increase in the numbers of cases and deaths from 2010 to 2019 occurred in the low and low-middle SDI quintiles.
“These results provide comprehensive and comparable estimates that can potentially inform efforts for equitably reducing the evolving burden of cancer globally,” the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and other industries.
