Abstract
ABSTRACT
Importance
Brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancers are the most common pediatric solid tumors, significantly affecting the patients’ life expectancy and quality.
Objective
To examine the disease burden of brain and CNS cancer in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021 across various age groups, sexes, and socio‐demographic index levels, at the global, regional, and national levels.
Methods
Data, including the incidence, mortality, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) of brain and CNS cancer in children and adolescents, were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study. Temporal trends were evaluated using the Joinpoint regression model. The relationship between disease burden and socioeconomic development, as well as health inequality, was examined.
Results
In 2021, the global age‐standardized incidence rate of brain and CNS cancers among patients aged 0–20 years was 1.55 per 100 000 population. From 1990 to 2021, the global age‐standardized mortality rate (ASMR) declined from 1.14 to 0.76 per 100 000, and the age‐standardized DALY rate (ASDR) decreased from 94.29 to 62.79 per 100 000. Over the past three decades, most regions and countries and territories have shown declining trends in ASMR and ASDR. Global inequality of disease burden persists, with regions possessing higher socioeconomic statuses exhibiting lower ASMR, ASDR, and mortality‐to‐incidence ratio.
Interpretation
The decline in ASMR and ASDR of pediatric brain and CNS cancer indicates improvements in disease management and patient outcomes. Enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, improving life quality, and promoting health equity are crucial directions for future research.