Global trends and inequities in childhood cancer burden from 1990 to 2021, with projections to 2040: a Global Burden of Disease study - PubMed

8 days ago

Childhood cancer now accounts for a growing share of global pediatric mortality and disability.
The study analyzed global trends in childhood cancer incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021, with projections to 2040.
In 2021, there were an estimated 185,530 childhood cancer cases and 83,020 deaths globally.
From 1990 to 2021, global incident counts declined by 11.92%, and deaths fell by 39.02%.
Leukemia, brain, and central nervous system tumors, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma remained the predominant types of childhood cancer.
High-SDI countries saw the greatest reductions in incidence, while some low-SDI regions experienced stable or rising mortality.
Projections to 2040 indicate further declines under current trajectories.
Profound inequities in childhood cancer burden persist, driven by under-diagnosis and limited access to care in low-SDI settings.
Achieving the WHO target of ≥60% survival by 2030 requires urgent investments in diagnostic capacity, treatment access, and workforce training.

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