Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neoplasms and aging represent significant global public health issues, posing a considerable burden on health care systems worldwide. This study aims to investigate the patterns and trends of specific neoplasms within the category of neoplasms from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Data on overall neoplasms and 34 specific neoplasms from the globe, 21 regions, and 204 countries/territories were retrieved from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study. Incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were utilized as epidemiological indicators and corresponding risk factors to represent the health burden caused by neoplasms accurately. Decomposition analysis was employed to evaluate the influence of aging on neoplasms. RESULTS: In 2021, the number of new neoplasm cases among individuals aged 55 and older was 33 901 264, with an incidence rate of 2281.4 per 100 000. The number of deaths due to neoplasms was 8 192 572, with a mortality rate of 551.32 per 100 000. The DALYs number was 170 885 851, with a DALY rate of 11 499.83 per 100 000. After age 65, the incidence rate was significantly higher among males than females, while the mortality rate remained higher for males. Skin neoplasms exhibited a rapid increase in incidence, while stomach cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma showed substantial declines in mortality and DALY rates. Additionally, the impact of aging on neoplasms increased with the rise in the socio-demographic index (SDI), with stomach cancer, gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and esophageal cancer being notably affected. Smoking remained the primary risk factor, peaking in high-middle SDI regions. From 1990 to 2021, drug use deaths emerged as the fastest-growing risk factor, with a 134.56% increase in deaths and 114.16% increase in DALYs, particularly in high SDI regions where growth reached 246.44% and 214.28%, respectively. DISCUSSION: Neoplasms and aging jointly constitute a significant and growing global burden, with notable differences across gender, geography, and SDI levels. Health care professionals and policymakers should propose innovative preventive and health care strategies based on existing and emerging trends to alleviate the global neoplasm burden.