Liver cancer is a digestive system malignancy that poses a significant public health challenge globally. This study, published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, aimed to analyze and compare the epidemiological trends of liver cancer attributed to hepatitis B (LCHB) and alcohol use (LCAL) over the past 32 years.
Data on mortality and disability-adjusted life years for LCHB and LCAL in China, globally, and across five sociodemographic index regions were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database and comprehensively analyzed.
READ MORE: ‘Treat all’ strategy for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection
READ MORE: Viruses can cause multiple myeloma cancer, case study finds, offering hope for treatment
In 2021, the global and Chinese death counts and disability-adjusted life years attributed to LCHB and LCAL showed substantial increases compared to 1990. China had the highest number of deaths from LCHB and LCAL among 204 countries and regions.
Gender and age disparities
Gender and age disparities were notable, with males and those aged 40–75 years bearing a higher burden than females and other age groups. Global age-period-cohort analysis revealed an escalating risk of death from LCHB with age, alongside a lower risk in younger cohorts and more recent periods.
The mortality risk for LCAL also increased with age but exhibited distinct cohort and period effects compared to LCHB. Decomposition analysis indicated that shifts in the global burden of LCHB and LCAL were influenced by population growth, with population aging playing a crucial role in China.
A significant burden of LCHB and LCAL persists, highlighting the need for tailored prevention, screening, and control strategies to mitigate their incidence, as well as the identification of advanced therapeutics to reduce mortality.
No comments yet