Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021

BackgroundOver the past 40 years, the global incidence of thyroid cancer has increased steadily. This study aimed to update the evaluation of thyroid cancer prevalence, incidence, mortality, and Disability–Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) rates from 1990 to 2021, with a focus on integrating prevalence da...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zuzhi Zhao, Yinghao Fan, Peng Sun, Suqin Zhang, Mengfei Xu, Jianhua Li, Pengfei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1613737/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850105181787652096
author Zuzhi Zhao
Yinghao Fan
Peng Sun
Suqin Zhang
Mengfei Xu
Jianhua Li
Pengfei Xu
author_facet Zuzhi Zhao
Yinghao Fan
Peng Sun
Suqin Zhang
Mengfei Xu
Jianhua Li
Pengfei Xu
author_sort Zuzhi Zhao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundOver the past 40 years, the global incidence of thyroid cancer has increased steadily. This study aimed to update the evaluation of thyroid cancer prevalence, incidence, mortality, and Disability–Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) rates from 1990 to 2021, with a focus on integrating prevalence data. Analyses were stratified by gender, age, and Socio–Demographic Index (SDI) at global, regional, and national levels.MethodsData were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to quantify temporal trends and evaluate age - standardized rates for prevalence (ASPR), incidence (ASIR), mortality (ASDR), and DALYs.ResultsIn 2021, the global thyroid cancer burden was substantial, with 1,987,148.5 cases. From 1990 to 2021, the ASPR increased from 14.9 (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI]: 14.1–16.0) to 23.1 (95% UI: 20.7–25.6) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of 1.58 (95% UI: 1.44–1.73); the ASIR increased from 2.1 (95% UI: 2–2.2) to 2.9 (95% UI: 2.6–3.2) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of 1.25 (95% UI: 1.14–1.37); the ASDR declined from 0.6 (95% UI: 0.5–0.6) to 0.5 (95% UI: 0.5–0.6) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of −0.24 (95% UI: −0.24 – −0.21); the age - standardized DALY rate decreased from 15.2 (95% UI: 14.2–16.8) to 14.6 (95% UI: 12.8–16.1) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of −0.14 (95% UI: −0.17 – –0.11). Western Sub–Saharan Africa had the lowest rates, while high–income North America had the highest ASPR and ASIR, and Andean Latin America had the highest ASDR. Higher SDI regions showed higher ASPR and ASIR, whereas lower SDI regions had higher ASDR. Saudi Arabia had the highest ASPR and ASIR, and Ethiopia had the highest ASDR and age–standardized DALY rate.ConclusionFrom 1990 to 2021, the global health burden of thyroid cancer increased significantly, with marked geographical disparities. Prevention and control strategies should consider the unequal global distribution of the disease.
format Article
id doaj-art-e92137452c4d437e95257db191b57575
institution DOAJ
issn 2296-861X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Nutrition
spelling doaj-art-e92137452c4d437e95257db191b575752025-08-20T02:39:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-07-011210.3389/fnut.2025.16137371613737Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021Zuzhi Zhao0Yinghao Fan1Peng Sun2Suqin Zhang3Mengfei Xu4Jianhua Li5Pengfei Xu6Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaThe Children's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaClinical Systems Biology Laboratories, Translational Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaBackgroundOver the past 40 years, the global incidence of thyroid cancer has increased steadily. This study aimed to update the evaluation of thyroid cancer prevalence, incidence, mortality, and Disability–Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) rates from 1990 to 2021, with a focus on integrating prevalence data. Analyses were stratified by gender, age, and Socio–Demographic Index (SDI) at global, regional, and national levels.MethodsData were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to quantify temporal trends and evaluate age - standardized rates for prevalence (ASPR), incidence (ASIR), mortality (ASDR), and DALYs.ResultsIn 2021, the global thyroid cancer burden was substantial, with 1,987,148.5 cases. From 1990 to 2021, the ASPR increased from 14.9 (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI]: 14.1–16.0) to 23.1 (95% UI: 20.7–25.6) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of 1.58 (95% UI: 1.44–1.73); the ASIR increased from 2.1 (95% UI: 2–2.2) to 2.9 (95% UI: 2.6–3.2) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of 1.25 (95% UI: 1.14–1.37); the ASDR declined from 0.6 (95% UI: 0.5–0.6) to 0.5 (95% UI: 0.5–0.6) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of −0.24 (95% UI: −0.24 – −0.21); the age - standardized DALY rate decreased from 15.2 (95% UI: 14.2–16.8) to 14.6 (95% UI: 12.8–16.1) per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of −0.14 (95% UI: −0.17 – –0.11). Western Sub–Saharan Africa had the lowest rates, while high–income North America had the highest ASPR and ASIR, and Andean Latin America had the highest ASDR. Higher SDI regions showed higher ASPR and ASIR, whereas lower SDI regions had higher ASDR. Saudi Arabia had the highest ASPR and ASIR, and Ethiopia had the highest ASDR and age–standardized DALY rate.ConclusionFrom 1990 to 2021, the global health burden of thyroid cancer increased significantly, with marked geographical disparities. Prevention and control strategies should consider the unequal global distribution of the disease.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1613737/fullthyroid cancerglobal burden of diseasedisability-adjusted life yearsincidenceprevalence
spellingShingle Zuzhi Zhao
Yinghao Fan
Peng Sun
Suqin Zhang
Mengfei Xu
Jianhua Li
Pengfei Xu
Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021
Frontiers in Nutrition
thyroid cancer
global burden of disease
disability-adjusted life years
incidence
prevalence
title Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021
title_full Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021
title_fullStr Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021
title_full_unstemmed Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021
title_short Temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden: a global analysis from 1990 to 2021
title_sort temporal trends and geographic disparities in thyroid cancer burden a global analysis from 1990 to 2021
topic thyroid cancer
global burden of disease
disability-adjusted life years
incidence
prevalence
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1613737/full
work_keys_str_mv AT zuzhizhao temporaltrendsandgeographicdisparitiesinthyroidcancerburdenaglobalanalysisfrom1990to2021
AT yinghaofan temporaltrendsandgeographicdisparitiesinthyroidcancerburdenaglobalanalysisfrom1990to2021
AT pengsun temporaltrendsandgeographicdisparitiesinthyroidcancerburdenaglobalanalysisfrom1990to2021
AT suqinzhang temporaltrendsandgeographicdisparitiesinthyroidcancerburdenaglobalanalysisfrom1990to2021
AT mengfeixu temporaltrendsandgeographicdisparitiesinthyroidcancerburdenaglobalanalysisfrom1990to2021
AT jianhuali temporaltrendsandgeographicdisparitiesinthyroidcancerburdenaglobalanalysisfrom1990to2021
AT pengfeixu temporaltrendsandgeographicdisparitiesinthyroidcancerburdenaglobalanalysisfrom1990to2021