Global, Regional, and National Burden and Trends of Female Cancers Among the Elderly Women (≥60 Years Old): An Analysis Based on the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study

Xianglong Li,1 Chenxi Wang,2 Zhong Du,1 Fengnian Han,3 Wanying Xie,1 Qinyu Zhou,1 Shuang Wu,4 Xi Zhang1 1Department of Medical and Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Yunnan Cancer Center), Kunming, Yunnan, People’s Republic of China; 3Fuzhou General Teaching Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Critical Care, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shuang Wu, Email [email protected] Xi Zhang, Email [email protected]: This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the global cancer burden among women aged 60 and older from 1990 to 2021, focusing specifically on breast cancer (BC), cervical cancer (CC), ovarian cancer (OC), and uterine cancer (UC).Methods: Utilizing the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, the study analyzes the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with these cancers. Joinpoint regression is employed for trend analysis and to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC), while the age-period-cohort (APC) model is used to explore the effects of age, period, and birth cohort on disease indicators.Results: In 2021, an estimated 721,111 deaths from female cancers were reported globally among the elderly women, with BC remaining the malignant tumor linked to the highest mortality rate. Nations characterized by a high Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) generally displayed increased Age-Standardized Incidence Rates (ASIR) and Age-Standardized Prevalence Rates (ASPR). Conversely, the Age-Standardized Rates (ASR) of DALYs and Age-Standardized Death Rates (ASDR) revealed opposite trends. In addition, Both ASIR and ASPR for BC and UC have demonstrated a rising trajectory, while the ASR pertaining to DALYs and mortality associated with the four cancers has shown a declining pattern.Conclusion: The disease burden of female cancers among elderly women remains substantial and is anticipated to escalate, revealing significant disparities across various regions and populations. This study underscores the necessity for more effective and targeted interventions to tackle this evolving health challenge.Keywords: female cancers, elder women, global burden of disease, sociodemographic index, average annual percent change