Global Statistics and Risk Factors of Neoplasms in the Elderly, and the Impact of Aging on Neoplasms From 1990-2021.

BACKGROUND

Neoplasms and aging represent significant global public health issues, posing a considerable burden on healthcare systems worldwide. This study aims to investigate the patterns and trends of specific neoplasms within the category of neoplasms from 1990 to 2021.

METHODS

Data on overall neoplasms and 34 specific neoplasms from the globe, 21 regions, and 204 countries/territories were retrieved from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study. Incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were utilized as epidemiological indicators and corresponding risk factors to represent the health burden caused by neoplasms accurately. Decomposition analysis was employed to evaluate the influence of aging on neoplasms.

RESULTS

In 2021, the number of new neoplasm cases among individuals aged 55 and older was 33,901,264, with an incidence rate of 2,281.4 per 100,000. The number of deaths due to neoplasms was 8,192,572, with a mortality rate of 551.32 per 100,000. The DALYs number was 170,885,851, with a DALYs rate of 11,499.83 per 100,000. After age 65, the incidence rate was significantly higher among males than females, while the mortality rate remained higher for males. Skin neoplasms exhibited a rapid increase in incidence, while stomach cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma showed substantial declines in mortality and DALY rates. Additionally, the impact of aging on neoplasms increased with the rise in the socio-demographic index (SDI), with stomach cancer, gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and esophageal cancer being notably affected. Smoking remained the primary risk factor, peaking in high-middle SDI regions. From 1990 to 2021, drug use deaths emerged as the fastest-growing risk factor, with a 134.56% increase in deaths and 114.16% increase in DALYs, particularly in high SDI regions where growth reached 246.44% and 214.28%, respectively.

DISCUSSION

Neoplasms and aging jointly constitute a significant and growing global burden, with notable differences across gender, geography, and SDI levels. Healthcare professionals and policymakers should propose innovative preventive and healthcare strategies based on existing and emerging trends to alleviate the global neoplasm burden.