Epidemiological trends in laryngeal cancer burden: insights from GBD 2021 and SEER databases

Abstract

Background: The burden of laryngeal cancer (LC) warrants further exploration to better understand its current status and trends. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021, we assessed age-standardized incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates for LC at the global, regional, and national levels. The LC burden was decomposed based on population size, age structure, and epidemiological changes, and cross-country inequalities were quantified using the World Health Organization’s recommended standard health equity approach. Additionally, data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were combined with joinpoint regression analysis to determine the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in LC incidence and mortality trends in the United States. Results: GBD data showed a global decline in LC incidence and mortality rates from 1990 to 2021, with notable gender disparities and a higher burden in males. Key risk factors included smoking, alcohol use, asbestos, and sulfur exposure. Decomposition analysis identified population growth as the main driver of the LC burden, with regional and gender differences in aging and epidemiological trends. Inequality analysis revealed higher DALYs in low-SDI countries, with a widening gap over time. SEER data indicated a declining LC incidence in the US (1992–2021), and incidence-based mortality(IBM) increased until 2003 before declining. Conclusions: From 1990 to 2021, global LC incidence and mortality declined, with a higher burden in males. The gap in LC burden between high and low SDI countries has increased. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to address both epidemiological trends and socio-demographic inequalities.