Trends in the global burden of oral cancer joint with attributable risk factors: Results from the global burden of disease study 2019.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the characteristics of risk factors for oral cancer and the disease burden they caused.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from GBD2019, where the EAPC was calculated to understand mortality trends and the APC model was used for the analysis of age characteristics.

RESULTS

Overall oral cancer mortality showed a promising downward trend [EAPC = -0.05 (-0.08 to -0.02)]. Oral cancer mortality attributable to tobacco chewing alone showed a significant upward trend [EAPC = 0.44 (0.36-0.52)]. Males are the majority of oral cancer deaths, while the disease burden of oral cancer in females could be largely attributable to chewing tobacco. The age of death attributable to each risk factor for oral cancer is concentrated between 45 and 74 years. Mortality for oral cancer caused by alcohol and smokeless tobacco was increasing in younger age groups (age < 45), and this trend was more pronounced in middle and middle-high SDI areas. The disease burden of oral cancer in high SDI regions was mainly attributed to alcohol consumption, while in middle and lower SDI regions it was mainly attributed to tobacco.

CONCLUSION

Smokeless tobacco proved a critical factor in the significant regional distribution of oral cancer. Oral cancer is on the increase in younger age groups. According to the characteristics of the distribution of risk factors, in traditionally high-incidence regions, such as India and Pakistan, oral cancer kept the highest ASDR, but was not experiencing the fastest growth rate. Additionally, it was oral cancer in middle SDI regions that needs more attention.