Increased burden of lip, oral, and pharyngeal cancer in adolescents and young adults from 1990 to 2021.

BACKGROUND

Lip, oral, and pharyngeal cancers are significant contributors to the global cancer burden; however, adequate estimates in younger groups are scarce. To address this gap, we examined their global, regional, and national changes in the burden in adolescents and young adults and their associated risks from 1990 to 2021.

METHODS

Based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, we assessed the number of cases and incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100,000 population, the corresponding estimated annual percentage changes, and risk factors for lip and oral cavity cancer (LOC) and other pharyngeal cancers (OPC) among younger populations aged 15-39 years.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate of LOC increased from 0.64 (95% uncertainty intervals [UI], 0.60 to 0.68) to 0.98 (95% UI, 0.84 to 1.10), mortality rate increased from 0.26 (95% UI, 0.24 to 0.28) to 0.33 (95% UI, 0.27 to 0.38), and DALYs rate increased from 15.45 (95% UI, 14.26 to 16.58) to 19.54 (95% UI, 16.02 to 22.46), per 100,000 population. Incidence of OPC increased from 0.10 (95% UI, 0.09 to 0.11) to 0.15 (95% UI, 0.13 to 0.17), mortality rate increased from 0.07 (95% UI, 0.06 to 0.07) to 0.08 (95% UI, 0.07 to 0.09), and the DALYs rate increased from 3.72 (95% UI, 3.24 to 4.08) to 4.61 (95% UI, 3.95 to 5.28), per 100,000 population. South Asia and Eastern Europe had the highest incidence, mortality, and DALYs for lip, oral, and other pharyngeal cancer in 2021, while the middle sociodemographic index (SDI) countries had the largest increase. Among 204 countries, Palau and Slovakia had the highest national incidence of younger LOC and OPC in 2021, respectively. Males accounted for 57.90% of the incident LOC cases in 2021 and 62.54% of the incident cases of OPC. The proportional contribution of the risk factors varied across regions.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence, incidence and mortality of lip, oral, and other pharyngeal cancer among adolescents vary by country and sex, and the disparities are widening. There is an urgent need to address the changing global burden of cancer in the younger population, tackle the specific vulnerabilities of this age group and the existing inequities. Global health authorities should also take action through specific control planning and appropriate measures.