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. 2021 Sep;30(5):e13438.
doi: 10.1111/ecc.13438. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

A Systematic Examination of Burden of Childhood Cancers in 183 Countries: Estimates from GLOBOCAN 2018

Rajesh Sharma  1
Affiliations

A Systematic Examination of Burden of Childhood Cancers in 183 Countries: Estimates from GLOBOCAN 2018

Rajesh Sharma. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: Childhood cancers are a significant cause of child deaths worldwide. This study examines the burden of 33 childhood cancers in 183 countries.

Methods: The estimates of age-, sex- and country-wise incidence and deaths due to 33 childhood cancers (below the age 15) for 183 countries were retrieved from GLOBOCAN 2018. The socioeconomic status of a country was measured by human development index (HDI).

Results: Globally, an estimated 200 166 cases and 74 956 deaths were attributed to childhood cancers in 2018. The age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) was 103 per million, whereas the age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) stood at 38 per million. ASIR was highest in high-income regions (e.g. North America: 182 per million); ASMR, however, was elevated in low- and medium-income countries (e.g. south-east Asia: 62 per million; North Africa: 51 per million). Leukaemia and brain cancers were dominant cancer groups accounting for 45% of cases and 57% of deaths. The ASIRs exhibited a positive gradient with HDI ( R 2 = 0.46 ) .

Conclusion: The high burden of childhood cancers (>80% of total incidence) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) calls for increased cancer awareness, improvement in oncologic infrastructure, international collaborations and twinning programmes, equitable access to multi-modal treatment and financial coverage of treatment expenses.

Keywords: GLOBOCAN; Incidence; Mortality; Paediatric Cancer.

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