Evolution in Laryngeal Cancer Mortality at the National and Subnational Level in Romania with 2030 Forecast

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Laryngeal cancer imposes a disproportionate burden on speech, airway protection and long-term quality of life. Contemporary population-based data for Central and Eastern Europe remain scarce, and the post-pandemic trajectory is uncertain. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: We performed a nationwide, retrospective ecological time-series study using Romanian mortality registers and hospital-discharge files for 2017-2023. Crude and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) were calculated, county-level indirect standardisation and spatial autocorrelation assessed and joinpoint regression quantified temporal trends. Forecasts to 2040 combined Holt-Winters/ARIMA models with Elliott-wave heuristics anchored to Fibonacci retracements. <i>Results</i>: In 2023, 798 laryngeal cancer deaths yielded a crude mortality of 3.65/100,000 (95% CI 3.41-3.91). Male mortality (7.07/100,000) exceeded female mortality 18-fold. Rural residents experienced a higher rate than urban counterparts (4.26 vs. 3.04/100,000), a difference unchanged after indirect age standardisation. National ASMR fell by 3.7% annually (<i>p</i> < 0.01), yet five counties formed a high-risk corridor (standardised mortality ratios 1.59-1.82); Moran's I = 0.27 (<i>p</i> < 0.01) indicated significant spatial clustering. Pandemic-era surgical throughput collapsed by 48%, generating a backlog projected to persist beyond 2030. Ensemble forecasting anticipates a doubling of discharges and mortality between 2034 and 2037 unless smoking prevalence falls by ≥30% and radon exposure is curtailed. <i>Conclusions</i>: Although overall laryngeal cancer mortality in Romania is declining, the pace lags behind Western Europe and is threatened by geographic inequities and pandemic-related care delays. Aggressive tobacco control, radon-remediation policies and expansion of surgical and radiotherapeutic capacity are required to avert a forecasted surge in the next decade.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Medicina
Published
2025-09-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61101743
Primary Topic
Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Evolution in Laryngeal Cancer Mortality at the National and Subnational Level in Romania with 2030 Forecast

Nicolae Constantin Balica, Delia Ioana Horhat, Kristine Guran, Andreea-Mihaela Banța et al.
Medicina
Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
article

Evolution in Laryngeal Cancer Mortality at the National and Subnational Level in Romania with 2030 Forecast

Nicolae Constantin Balica, Delia Ioana Horhat, Kristine Guran, Andreea-Mihaela Banța, Bogdan Hîrtie, Ingrid-Denisa Barcan, Simona Pîrvu, Karina-Cristina Marin, Cristian-Ion Moț, Victor Banța
article en

Abstract

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Laryngeal cancer imposes a disproportionate burden on speech, airway protection and long-term quality of life. Contemporary population-based data for Central and Eastern Europe remain scarce, and the post-pandemic trajectory is uncertain. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: We performed a nationwide, retrospective ecological time-series study using Romanian mortality registers and hospital-discharge files for 2017-2023. Crude and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) were calculated, county-level indirect standardisation and spatial autocorrelation assessed and joinpoint regression quantified temporal trends. Forecasts to 2040 combined Holt-Winters/ARIMA models with Elliott-wave heuristics anchored to Fibonacci retracements. <i>Results</i>: In 2023, 798 laryngeal cancer deaths yielded a crude mortality of 3.65/100,000 (95% CI 3.41-3.91). Male mortality (7.07/100,000) exceeded female mortality 18-fold. Rural residents experienced a higher rate than urban counterparts (4.26 vs. 3.04/100,000), a difference unchanged after indirect age standardisation. National ASMR fell by 3.7% annually (<i>p</i> < 0.01), yet five counties formed a high-risk corridor (standardised mortality ratios 1.59-1.82); Moran's I = 0.27 (<i>p</i> < 0.01) indicated significant spatial clustering. Pandemic-era surgical throughput collapsed by 48%, generating a backlog projected to persist beyond 2030. Ensemble forecasting anticipates a doubling of discharges and mortality between 2034 and 2037 unless smoking prevalence falls by ≥30% and radon exposure is curtailed. <i>Conclusions</i>: Although overall laryngeal cancer mortality in Romania is declining, the pace lags behind Western Europe and is threatened by geographic inequities and pandemic-related care delays. Aggressive tobacco control, radon-remediation policies and expansion of surgical and radiotherapeutic capacity are required to avert a forecasted surge in the next decade.

MedicinaVol. 61(10)
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO), Ministerul Sanatatii (RO), Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara (RO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 64%
Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.