Burden of thyroid cancer among women in non-high-income East and Southeast Asia, 1990–2021: An observational study

Thyroid cancer (TC) ranks ninth in global incidence and is the most common endocrine malignancy worldwide. Despite their large populations and relatively low proportion of high-income countries, East and Southeast Asia face significant challenges posed by TC. This study aims to evaluate long-term trends and regional differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of thyroid cancer among women in non-high-income East and Southeast Asia from 1990 to 2021 and examine associations with sociodemographic index (SDI) and high body mass index. Data were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease database. The burden of TC was stratified by etiology, age, sex, SDI, and geographic region. The average annual percentage change in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs was calculated. This study used publicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease database. Ethical approval and informed consent were not required because the data are de-identified and publicly accessible, and no individual patient information was used. Across East and Southeast Asia, the incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs of female TC steadily increased, while most countries and territories exhibited decreasing trends in age-standardized mortality rate and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate. In non-high-income areas, incidence and prevalence were positively correlated with SDI, whereas mortality and DALY rates were negatively correlated with SDI. DALY rates and mortality attributable to high body mass index were slightly more pronounced among women. The burden of female TC varies by etiology, region, and SDI level. Interventions focused on improving early diagnosis, enhancing healthcare accessibility, and implementing targeted management strategies are critical, especially in low-SDI settings. Addressing obesity is an urgent priority. Standardized diagnostic criteria and strengthened global collaboration are necessary to reduce the TC burden among women in East and Southeast Asia.