1. Description of thyroid cancer burden in China and globally
1.1 Incidence of thyroid cancer in China and globally
The number of thyroid cancer cases in China increased from 12,157 (95%CI: 9714–14406) in 1990 to 48,105 (95%CI: 38,695-60068) in 2021, an increase of 295.70%. Globally, however, the incidence increased from 89,885 cases (95%CI: 84681–96999) in 1990 to 249,538 (223290–274638), a cumulative increase of 177.62%. In China, ASIR increased from 1.249(95%CI: 1.009–1.473) per 100,000 people in 1990 to 2.473 (95%CI: 1.993–3.008) per 100,000 people in 2021, a year-on-year increase of approximately 98%.From 1990 to 2021, the incidence of AAPC in China increased by 2.242% (95%CI: 2.112–2.371) and the global AAPC increased by 1.139 (95%CI: 1.037–1.24) (Table 1).
Table 1
All-age cases and age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs rates and corresponding AAPC of thyroid cancer in china and globally in 1990 and 2021
Location
|
Measure
|
1990
|
2021
|
1990–2021 AAPC
|
All-ages cases
|
Age-standardized rates per 100,000 people
|
All-ages cases
|
Age-standardized rates per 100,000 people
|
n (95% CI)
|
n (95% CI)
|
n (95% CI)
|
n (95% CI)
|
n (95% CI)
|
China
|
Incidence
|
12157(9714–14406)
|
1.249(1.009–1.473)
|
48105(38695–60068)
|
2.473(1.993–3.088)
|
2.242 (2.112–2.371)
|
Prevalence
|
87082(68622–104169)
|
8.098(6.410–9.660)
|
388411(311967–488388)
|
20.012(16.135–25.228)
|
2.975 (2.833–3.117)
|
Deaths
|
3599(3038–4182)
|
0.473(0.403–0.550)
|
7692(6123–9429)
|
0.387(0.307–0.472)
|
-0.651 (-0.824 - -0.479)
|
DALYs
|
110736(92143–130509)
|
12.086(10.142–14.080)
|
203325(163131–251789)
|
10.105(8.139–12.447)
|
-0.59 (-0.787 - -0.392)
|
Global
|
Incidence
|
89885(84681–96999)
|
2.062(1.951–2.224)
|
249538(223290–274638)
|
2.914(2.607–3.213)
|
1.139 (1.037–1.24)
|
Prevalence
|
676649(636789–727723)
|
14.931(14.124–16.029)
|
1987148(1776275–2198245)
|
23.143(20.663–25.647)
|
1.418 (1.312–1.525)
|
Deaths
|
21893(20437–24108)
|
0.570(0.530–0.628)
|
44799(39925–48541)
|
0.530(0.470–0.575)
|
-0.23 (-0.289 - -0.171)
|
DALYs
|
646741(599119–717357)
|
15.206(14.184–16.830)
|
1246485(1094416–1375853)
|
14.571(12.783–16.115)
|
-0.131 (-0.241 - -0.021)
|
1.2 Thyroid cancer prevalence in China and globally
From the prevalence point of view, the number of thyroid cancer cases in China increased from 87082 (95%CI: 68622-104,169) in 1990 to 388411 (95%CI: 311967–488388), an increase of about 346.03%. However, worldwide prevalence increased from 676,649 (95%CI: 636789–727723) in 1990 to 1987,148 (95%CI: 1776275–2198245) in 2021, a cumulative increase of approximately 193.67%.In 1990, the ASPR in China rose from 8.098 (95%CI: 6.410–9.660) per 100,000 people to 20.012 (95%CI: 16.135–25.228) per 100,000 people in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 147.12%. AAPC values for the standardized prevalence of thyroid cancer in China and the world from 1990 to 2021 are 2.975 and 1.418, respectively. This signifies that the prevalence of thyroid cancer in China has experienced an average annual increase of 2.975% over the past three decades, whereas the global prevalence has seen a comparatively moderate average annual growth of 1.418%(Table 1).
1.3 Thyroid cancer mortality in China and globally
Globally, thyroid cancer will cause 44,799 deaths in 2021 (95%CI: 39,925 − 48,541), an increase of 104.63% compared to 1990. In China, the death rate increased by 113.73% between 1990 and 2021. Global ASMR declined from 0.570 per 100,000 population in 1990 (95%CI: 0.530–0.628) to 0.530 per 100,000 population in 2021 (95%CI: 0.470–0.575). In China, ASMR declined from 0.473 (95%CI: 0.403–0.550) per 100,000 people in 1990 to 0.387 (95%CI: 0.307–0.472) per 100,000 people in 2021. From 1990 to 2021, the mortality AAPC in China decreased by 0.651% (95%CI: [-0.824]-[-0.479]), while the global mortality AAPC decreased by 0.23% (95%CI: [-0.289]-[-0.171]) (Table 1).
1.4 Thyroid cancer in DALYs in China and globally
In China, the DALYs of thyroid cancer increased from 110736 (95%CI: 92143–130509) in 1990 to 203325 (95%CI: 163131–251789) in 2021, with a cumulative increase of 83.61%. Globally, DALYs increased by approximately 92.73% between 1990 and 2019. Global ASDR declined from 15.206 per 100,000 population in 1990 (95%CI: 14.184–16.830) to 14.571 per 100,000 population in 2021 (95%CI: 12.783–16.115). In China, ASDR declined from 12.086 (95%CI: 10.142–14.080) per 100,000 people in 1990 to 10.105 (95%CI: 8.139–12.447) per 100,000 people in 2021. From 1990 to 2021, AAPC in DALYs decreased by 0.131% (95%CI: [-0.241]-[-0.021]) globally, and by 0.59% (95%CI: [-0.787]-[-0.392]) in China(Table 1).
2. Joinpoint regression model analysis
The APC of ASIR and ASPR for thyroid cancer in China and the world from 1990 to 2021 showed an increasing trend (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). It should be noted that the annual percentage changes (APC) of ASMR and ASDR in thyroid cancer in China during 1990–2017 first leveled off and then significantly decreased (ASMR:1990–1996 APC = 0.04; 1996–2003 APC=-1.61,P < 0.05; 2003–2007 APC=-1.18,P < 0.05; ASDR:1990–1996 APC=-0.19; 1996–2003 APC=-1.68,P < 0.05; 2003–2007 APC=-0.94,P < 0.05), but increased after Joinpoint 2007, and showed a downward trend again after Joinpoint 2011. Globally, ASMR and ASDR in thyroid cancer increased from 1990 to 1995 (P < 0.05), but decreased from 1995 to 2004. However, for the global ASMR, it was found to be stable from 2004 to 2013 and then showed a significant decline (P < 0.05); ASDR showed an upward inflection point from 2004 to 2010 (P < 0.05) and then showed a downward trend again (P < 0.05) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).
3、Comparison of disease burden trends of thyroid cancer in China and globally
From 1990 to 2021, ASIR of thyroid cancer in China and the world showed a slight upward trend, while ASMR showed a slight downward trend. At the same time, the ASPR of thyroid cancer is on the rise in both China and the world, and as can be seen from Fig. 3, the growth rate in China is significantly greater. On the contrary, the ASDR of thyroid cancer in China and the world as a whole showed a downward trend between 1990 and 2021, but in China, it showed a slight upward trend from 2007 to 2011 and then a slight decline(Fig. 3).
4、Thyroid cancer disease burden in different age groups in China
Figure 4 shows the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs of thyroid cancer in different age groups in China in 1990 and 2021, as well as the corresponding coarse rates. From the incidence point of view, thyroid cancer occurs at all ages, mainly in the 50–59 age group; In 1990 and 2021, the crude incidence of thyroid cancer (CIR) in China began to increase from the 0–14 age group, began to slightly after an inflection point in the 40–44 age group, and then continued to increase. This indicates that the incidence of thyroid cancer is the peak in the middle-aged and elderly groups. The peak incidence of thyroid cancer in China in 1990 was in the 40–44 age group, while in 2021 it was in the 55–59 age group, which may reflect the long-term nature of thyroid cancer and changes in disease patterns over time. In terms of the number of deaths, the age group with the highest number of deaths in 1990 and 2021 was 75–79, and the CMR of thyroid cancer showed an increasing trend with increasing age. A similar trend was observed in CDR, and the peak DALYs in 1990 and 2021 were in the 55–59 age group.
5. Gender-specific disease burden of thyroid cancer in China
Figures 5 and 6 show a comparison of thyroid cancer incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in men and women of different age groups in China in 1990 and 2021. Figure 5A shows the number of new cases of thyroid cancer in men and women in different age groups in 1990. The results show that in all age groups, the number of thyroid cancer patients in women is higher than that in men, which is consistent with the global trend. However, the peak age of the incidence of thyroid cancer in Chinese women is 40–44 years old, while the peak age of the incidence of thyroid cancer in men is 55–59 years old. This suggests that women are more susceptible to the disease burden of thyroid cancer(Fig. 5A and Supplementary Fig. 1A). In 2021, the incidence peaks in both men and women at 55–59 years of age, and the number of thyroid cancer cases in men has increased significantly compared to 1990 (Fig. 6A). From the perspective of prevalence results, the peak stage of prevalence of both male and female in China in 1990 and 2021 was consistent with the incidence results, and the number of male thyroid cancer cases gradually increased with the passage of time(Fig. 5B and Fig. 6B). When comparing the number of deaths of men and women in 1990, it is found that the number of deaths of women is higher than that of men in all age groups in China and globally, but the peak of death of Chinese women occurs at 70–74 years old, while the peak of death of men is 75–79 years old. In 2021, the number of male deaths in China is approaching the number of female deaths, but the peak of male deaths occurs at the age of 75–79, and the peak of female thyroid cancer deaths occurs at the age of 70–74(Fig. 5C and Fig. 6C). At the global level of change, women have a higher risk of thyroid cancer and death than men (Supplementary Fig. 1 and Supplementary Fig. 2). In 1990 and 2021, the peak age of female DALYs in China was 65–69 years old, while the peak age of male DALYs was 55–59 years old(Fig. 5D and Fig. 6D). These results indicate that the burden of thyroid cancer increases in the middle-aged and elderly population, and the trend changes in China and the world are slightly skewed, suggesting that we need to develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
The results in Fig. 7 show a comparison of all-age prevalence and age-standardized rates in Chinese men and women between 1990 and 2021. In 1990, the sex difference of ASIR between male and female thyroid cancer was the largest, and then ASIR showed an overall upward trend with the increase of years, and the gender difference also decreased. The trend of ASPR of thyroid cancer in men and women is similar to that of ASIR, showing an overall increasing trend from 1990 to 2021, and the ASPR and ASIR of women are always higher than that of men(Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B). However, in terms of ASMR and ASDR, we found that women's ASMR and ASDR decreased over time in all age groups, while men's ASMR and ASDR showed a first increase and then a slow decline. These results highlight how the disease burden of thyroid cancer in China has changed over time and varies across age and gender groups. In particular, it reveals that middle-aged and elderly people are at high risk of thyroid cancer, and face higher thyroid cancer mortality and DALYs burden. In addition, not only women need to pay attention to thyroid health, but also men's thyroid cancer patients are increasing year by year.