Burden of brain and central nervous system cancers in China from 1990 to 2019

K. Wu, L. Chen, Y. Chen, S.-J. Tang

Department of Neurosurgery, Xichang People’s Hospital, Liangshan, Sichuan, P.R. China. tangsj_xc@126.com

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• Neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE: Primary central nervous system (CNS) cancer is a predominant source of mortality and morbidity globally. This study aims to analyze the burden and variation trends of CNS cancer in China from 1990 to 2019.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed people of all ages with CNS cancer in China from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2019. We collected the data including incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized death rate (ASDR), and DALYs rate were compared by age and sex.

RESULTS: In 2019, there were more than 94 (95% uncertainty intervals [CI]: 73-114) thousand incident cases, 63 (47-76) thousand deaths and 2.0 (1.5-2.5) million DALYs due to CNS cancer in China in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, the absolute number of incident cases, deaths, and DALYs increased by 107.0% (39.0 to 169.0), 67.0% (12.0 to 117.0), and 16.0% (–23.0 to 63.0). The ASIR increased by 28.0% (–16.0 to 64.0). ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate decreased by –10.0% (–40.0 to 15.0) and –22.0% (–50.0 to 10.0), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The overall burden due to CNS cancer in China remains high, as evidenced by the sharp increase in the incident cases, deaths, and DALYs from 1990 to 2019. Elderly patients and neonates show relatively high burden. Sex-specific differences in the incidence of CNS cancer in China are observed.

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