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. 2020 Jul 6;49(1):46.
doi: 10.1186/s40463-020-00443-4.

Epidemiological trends of head and neck Cancer survivors in Alberta: towards improved understanding of the burden of disease

Jin Soo Song  1   2 , Patrick Vallance  1 , Vincent Biron  1   2 , Caroline C Jeffery  3   4
Affiliations

Epidemiological trends of head and neck Cancer survivors in Alberta: towards improved understanding of the burden of disease

Jin Soo Song et al. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. .

Abstract

Background: With an increase in the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and more favourable survival outcomes, there is now a population of head and neck cancer survivors that are different from preceding decades. In addition, their long-term survivorship issues have become increasing research interests. This study was undertaken to determine the changing epidemiological trends of head and neck cancer survivors in Alberta to better anticipate future demands on healthcare services.

Methods: The Alberta Cancer Registry was queried for adult (aged > 18 years), head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who were at least 1-year post-treatment completion between 1997 to 2016. Cutaneous head and neck and thyroid cancer patients were excluded. Extracted data was then used to calculate the incidence and prevalence of early (< 5 years from treatment), intermediate (5 to < 10 years from treatment), and late (> 10 years from treatment) survivors of head and neck cancer. Point prevalence of HNC survivors in 2005, 2010, and 2015 were then further stratified by gender, sub-site and age.

Results: Over this time period, head and neck cancer survivors tended to be younger (64.0 vs. 62.1, p = 0.046) and male (M:F 2.45:1 vs 2.54:1). In 1997, the predominant subsites were the oral cavity and larynx at 45.8% and 30.9%, respectively. In 2015 the predominant subsites were the oral cavity and oropharynx at 33.0% and 29.4%, respectively. Within the cohort, the prevalence of late HNC survivors increased to 13.3 per 100,000 people in 2015.

Conclusions: There is a significant population of head and neck survivors who are younger, male, and more than 10 years post-treatment. While oral cavity cancers have shown stable disease prevalence in recent decades, the number of OPSCC survivors have increased. With an improved understanding of the distribution and characteristics of HNC survivors, a more guided healthcare support network can be fostered for these patients.

Keywords: Alberta; Canada; Demographics; Epidemiology; Head and neck Cancer; Survivors; Survivorship.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentage of New HNC Survivors by Subsite between 1997 and 2015
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Incidence of New HNC Survivors by Subsite in 2005 and 2015 (cases per 100,000 people)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Point Prevalence of New HNC survivors by Subsite and Year (cases per 100,000 people)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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