Global, regional, and national burden of neuroblastoma in children and adolescents under 19 years from 1990 to 2021: a trend analysis

Neuroblastoma is a common malignant tumor in children and adolescents, with significant health burdens, especially for those under 19 years. This study assesses the global, regional, and national burden of these tumors from 1990 to 2021. Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 dataset were used, covering prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for various diseases in 204 countries. Indicators were stratified by Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), age, and gender. Between 1990 and 2021, global age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates of neuroblastoma increased from 1.79 and 0.19 to 2.15 and 0.23 per 100,000 population, with annual percentage changes (EAPCs) of 0.74 and 0.73, respectively, calculated using data from 1990 to 2021. Mortality and DALYs rates also increased, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The High-income Asia Pacific region had the highest prevalence and incidence rates, whereas the Caribbean region showed the highest mortality and DALYs. The highest rates were observed in children under 5, with males showing a greater increase in burden. A temporary decline in global rates was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely due to reduced healthcare access and underreporting. The growing burden of neuroblastoma, with regional and demographic disparities, highlights the need for precision medicine in high-income regions and improved healthcare infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries. Future research should focus on understanding etiological factors, personalized treatment, and data collection to support effective global health policies.