Global Burden of Thyroid Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults (aged 15-39 Years) from 1990 to 2021: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2025 Feb 14

PMID 39951481

Authors

Zijian Qiu

Shengjian Yu

Lin Zheng

Ying Lou

Xiuxia Chen

Feng Xuan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system and head-and-neck region, yet data on its burden in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is lacking. This study aimed to estimate the global burden of TC among AYAs from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: Utilizing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data, we analyzed age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) on global, regional, and national scales. Joinpoint regression was employed to determine average annual percentage change (AAPC), with frontier analysis revealing regions for improvement. Decomposition analysis assessed the impacts of population aging, growth, and epidemiological changes. Projections for disease burden extending to 2040 were generated using the Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model.

Result: In 2021, there were 48.2 thousand incident cases, 436.1 thousand prevalent cases, and 183.5 thousand DALYs worldwide. Meantime, the age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR), and age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR) were 1.6, 14.3 and 6.1 per 100 000, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, the ASIR, ASPR and ASDR increased with AAPCs of 1.73, 1.77, and 0.38, respectively. Socio-demographic resources in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (Province of China), Iceland, United Arab Emirates, and United States Virgin Islands have the potential to lower ASDR due to TC among AYAs. Furthermore, 13.3 thousand and 34.9 thousand new cases occurred in the males and females in 2021. Among 5 age groups, the highest numbers of incidence, prevalence, and DALYs, along with ASRs, were observed in the 35-39 age group. Global projections indicated a continuous rise in numbers of incidence, prevalence, and DALYs, with estimates of 60.2 thousand, 558.4 thousand, and 199.7 thousand by 2040, respectively.

Conclusion: The global burden of TC among AYAs was on the rise, with significant disparities by regions, genders, and age groups, highlighting the necessity for targeted and effective interventions.

References

. Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 315 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE), 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet. 2016; 388(10053):1603-1658. PMC: 5388857. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31460-X. View

Fan K, Rimal J, Zhang P, Johnson N . Stark differences in cancer epidemiological data between GLOBOCAN and GBD: Emphasis on oral cancer and wider implications. EClinicalMedicine. 2022; 54:101673. PMC: 9561675. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101673. View

Das Gupta P . A general method of decomposing a difference between two rates into several components. Demography. 1978; 15(1):99-112. View

. Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2024; 403(10440):2162-2203. PMC: 11120204. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00933-4. View

. Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950-2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global.... Lancet. 2024; 403(10440):1989-2056. PMC: 11126395. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00476-8. View

Das Gupta P . Standardization and decomposition of rates from cross-classified data. Genus. 1994; 50(3-4):171-96. View

Chen J, Cui Y, Deng Y, Xiang Y, Chen J, Wang Y . Global, regional, and national burden of cancers attributable to particulate matter pollution from 1990 to 2019 and projection to 2050: Worsening or improving?. J Hazard Mater. 2024; 477:135319. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135319. View

Ehlers M, Schott M . Hashimoto's thyroiditis and papillary thyroid cancer: are they immunologically linked?. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2014; 25(12):656-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2014.09.001. View

Alexander E, Cibas E . Diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022; 10(7):533-539. DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00101-2. View

10.

. Global burden of 288 causes of death and life expectancy decomposition in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2024; 403(10440):2100-2132. PMC: 11126520. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00367-2. View

11.

Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel R, Soerjomataram I . Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024; 74(3):229-263. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21834. View

12.

Yu Z, Bai X, Zhou R, Ruan G, Guo M, Han W . Differences in the incidence and mortality of digestive cancer between Global Cancer Observatory 2020 and Global Burden of Disease 2019. Int J Cancer. 2023; 154(4):615-625. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34740. View

13.

Dal Maso L, Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Franceschi S . Risk factors for thyroid cancer: an epidemiological review focused on nutritional factors. Cancer Causes Control. 2008; 20(1):75-86. DOI: 10.1007/s10552-008-9219-5. View

14.

Molassiotis A, Kwok S, Leung A, Tyrovolas S . Associations between sociodemographic factors, health spending, disease burden, and life expectancy of older adults (70 + years old) in 22 countries in the Western Pacific Region, 1995-2019: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study.... Geroscience. 2022; 44(2):925-951. PMC: 9135952. DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00494-z. View

15.

Resende de Paiva C, Gronhoj C, Feldt-Rasmussen U, von Buchwald C . Association between Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Thyroid Cancer in 64,628 Patients. Front Oncol. 2017; 7:53. PMC: 5385456. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00053. View

16.

de Souza J, Hunt B, Asirwa F, Adebamowo C, Lopes G . Global Health Equity: Cancer Care Outcome Disparities in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries. J Clin Oncol. 2015; 34(1):6-13. PMC: 5795715. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2015.62.2860. View

17.

. What Should the Age Range Be for AYA Oncology?. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2016; 1(1):3-10. DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2011.1505. View

18.

. Global, regional, and national burden of other musculoskeletal disorders, 1990-2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023; 5(11):e670-e682. PMC: 10620749. DOI: 10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00232-1. View

19.

Oberoi S, Garland A, Yan A, Lambert P, Xue L, Decker K . Mental Disorders Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: A Canadian Population-Based and Sibling Cohort Study. J Clin Oncol. 2024; 42(13):1509-1519. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.23.01615. View

20.

Davies L, Welch H . Current thyroid cancer trends in the United States. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014; 140(4):317-22. DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2014.1. View