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. 2023 Feb 28;15(2):348-364.
doi: 10.21037/jtd-22-856. Epub 2023 Feb 1.

Global trends in the burden of esophageal cancer, 1990-2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Yu Jiang #  1   2 , Yuechun Lin #  1   2 , Yaokai Wen #  3 , Wenhai Fu #  1   4 , Rui Wang  1   4 , Jiaxi He  1 , Jianrong Zhang  5 , Zhufeng Wang  6 , Fan Ge  1   4 , Zhenyu Huo  1   2 , Runchen Wang  1   2 , Haoxin Peng  1   2 , Xiangrong Wu  1   2 , Jianxing He  1 , Shuben Li  1
Affiliations

Global trends in the burden of esophageal cancer, 1990-2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Yu Jiang et al. J Thorac Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. A deeper understanding of the trends in annual incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of esophageal cancer is critical for management and prevention. In this study, we report on the disease burden of esophageal cancer in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019 by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Methods: Data on incidence, mortality, and DALYs were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. The estimated numbers and age-standardized rates for esophageal cancer in 2019 are presented in this paper, as well as trends from 1990 to 2019. All estimates are presented as counts and age-standardized rates per 100,000 population, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for each estimate.

Results: In 2019, nearly 535,000 (95% UI: 467,000-595,000) new cases of esophageal cancer occurred globally. Esophageal cancer was responsible for more than 498,000 (95% UI: 438,000-551,000) deaths and 11.7 million (95% UI: 10.4-12.9 million) DALYs. Worldwide age-standardized rates of esophageal cancer, including incidence, deaths, and DALYs, have declined since 1990. However, the trends differ across countries and territories. Notably, there was a nonlinear but generally inverse correlation between age-standardized DALY rates and SDI. Higher age-standardized incidence and death rates were observed in males compared to females, and both increased with age. Regarding risk factors, smoking, alcohol use, and high body-mass index were 3 predominant contributors to esophageal cancer DALYs in 2019 for both sexes worldwide.

Conclusions: This study found a global reduction in the esophageal cancer burden, but substantial heterogeneity remains across regions and countries. Hence, the identification of high-risk groups and the exploration of specific local strategies and primary prevention efforts are required.

Keywords: Esophageal cancer; disease burden; incidence; mortality; risk factor.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-22-856/coif). Jianxing He serves as Executive Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Thoracic Disease. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The age-standardized incidence (A) and death rates (B) of esophageal cancer for 21 GBD regions by sex, 2019. GBD, Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The percentage change in age-standardized incidence (A) and death rates (B) of esophageal cancer for 21 GBD regions by sex, 1990−2019. GBD, Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The age-standardized rates and percentage change in age-standardized rates of esophageal cancer for 204 countries and territories. (A) The age-standardized incidence rates of esophageal cancer, 2019. (B) The age-standardized mortality rates of esophageal cancer, 2019. (C) The age-standardized DALY rates of esophageal cancer, 2019. (D) The percentage change in age-standardized incidence rates of esophageal cancer, 1990−2019. (E) The percentage change in age-standardized mortality rates of esophageal cancer, 1990−2019. (F) The percentage change in age-standardized DALY rates of esophageal cancer, 1990−2019. DALY, disability-adjusted life-year.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Age-standardized DALY rates of esophageal cancer for 21 GBD regions (A) and 204 countries and territories (B) by SDI, 1990−2019. Expected values based on SDI and disease rates in all locations are shown as the black line. For each region, points from left to right depict estimates from each year from 1990 to 2019. DALY, disability-adjusted life-year; GBD, Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study; SDI, sociodemographic index.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Global number and age-standardized rates of incidence (A), deaths (B), and DALYs (C) of esophageal cancer by age and sex, 2019. The box plots indicate numbers and line plots indicate rates per 100,000 population. Dashed lines indicate 95% upper and lower uncertainty intervals. DALY, disability-adjusted life-year.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Proportion of esophageal cancer DALYs attributable to risk factors for 21 GBD regions for both sexes, 2019. BMI, body mass index; DALY, disability-adjusted life-year; GBD, Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Proportion of esophageal cancer DALYs attributable to risk factors by age for both sexes, 2019. BMI, body mass index; DALY, disability-adjusted life-year.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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