Epidemiological trends in laryngeal cancer burden: insights from GBD 2021 and SEER databases

Our plain-English summary of Epidemiological trends in laryngeal cancer burden: insights from GBD 2021 and SEER databases, by J. Zhang, S. Yu, F. Wang, et al (Discover Oncology, 2025).

The study

• Authors: J. Zhang, S. Yu, F. Wang, W. Jiang, L. Fan
• Journal: Discover Oncology
• Published: 2025;16(1):1946
• Cited by: 1 article, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Background: The burden of laryngeal cancer (LC) warrants further exploration to better understand its current status and trends.

Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021, we assessed age-standardized incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates for LC at the global, regional, and national levels. The LC burden was decomposed based on population size, age structure, and epidemiological changes, and cross-country inequalities were quantified using the World Health Organization's recommended standard health equity approach. Additionally, data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were combined with joinpoint regression analysis to determine the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in LC incidence and mortality trends in the United States.

Results: GBD data showed a global decline in LC incidence and mortality rates from 1990 to 2021, with notable gender disparities and a higher burden in males. Key risk factors included smoking, alcohol use, asbestos, and sulfur exposure. Decomposition analysis identified population growth as the main driver of the LC burden, with regional and gender differences in aging and epidemiological trends. Inequality analysis revealed higher DALYs in low-SDI countries, with a widening gap over time. SEER data indicated a declining LC incidence in the US (1992-2021), and incidence-based mortality(IBM) increased until 2003 before declining.

Conclusions: From 1990 to 2021, global LC incidence and mortality declined, with a higher burden in males. The gap in LC burden between high and low SDI countries has increased. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to address both epidemiological trends and socio-demographic inequalities.

© 2025. The Author(s).

In plain English

This analysis used Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 estimates for 204 countries and territories (1990–2021) and data from SEER-12 cancer registries covering select U.S. regions (1992–2021) to describe trends in laryngeal cancer. Estimated new cases worldwide rose from 125,175.07 (95% uncertainty interval 118,981.12 to 131,639.00) in 1990 to 200,883.04 (186,941.11 to 216,097.56) in 2021. The age-standardized incidence rate fell from 3.07 (2.92 to 3.23) to 2.29 (2.13 to 2.47) per 100,000. Estimated deaths worldwide in 2021 numbered 117,251.60 (109,354.57 to 125,952.42). In 2021, GBD attributed 2.17% of laryngeal cancer disability-adjusted life years and 3.00% of deaths worldwide to occupational asbestos exposure; smoking accounted for 66.23% of deaths. Australasia showed notable occupational asbestos exposure; asbestos fiber types were not named. In the SEER-12 data (31,685 cases, 22,452 deaths), the average annual change in incidence was −2.85% (95% CI −3.01 to −2.69). Incidence-based mortality rose until 2003 and then fell. The authors concluded that laryngeal cancer remains a considerable public health challenge, particularly among males and in low-income regions, and noted that the estimates may be influenced by modeling assumptions.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Secondary analysis of public databases: modeled GBD 2021 estimates (trend, decomposition and cross-country inequality analyses) plus joinpoint trend analysis of U.S. SEER-12 registry data
• Who was studied: Laryngeal cancer burden in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2021 (GBD 2021). Laryngeal cancer cases and deaths in SEER-12 registries covering select U.S. regions, 1992–2021: 31,685 incident cases and 22,452 laryngeal cancer-related deaths.
• Exposure: No exposure was measured directly. The study described GBD estimates of laryngeal cancer DALYs and deaths attributed to smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and occupational exposure to asbestos and sulfuric acid. Asbestos fiber types were not specified.
• Main results:
  • Global age-standardized incidence rate of laryngeal cancer declined from 3.07 (95% UI 2.92 to 3.23) to 2.29 (95% UI 2.13 to 2.47) per 100,000 between 1990 and 2021, with an estimated annual percentage change of −1.09 (95% CI −1.17 to −1.01). The estimated global number of incident cases rose from 125,175.07 (95% UI 118,981.12 to 131,639.00) to 200,883.04 (95% UI 186,941.11 to 216,097.56).
  • In 2021, global laryngeal cancer deaths totaled 117,251.60 (95% UI 109,354.57 to 125,952.42). The age-standardized mortality rate was 1.35 per 100,000 (95% UI 1.26 to 1.45).
  • Globally in 2021, occupational exposure to asbestos accounted for 2.17% of laryngeal cancer DALYs, and exposure to sulfuric acid for 3.61% (GBD estimates).
  • Globally in 2021, occupational asbestos exposure accounted for 3.00% of laryngeal cancer deaths, and sulfuric acid exposure for 3.01% (GBD estimates).
  • Globally in 2021, smoking accounted for 66.23% and high alcohol use for 12.32% of laryngeal cancer deaths (GBD estimates).
  • Regionally, Australasia showed notable occupational exposure to asbestos among the contributing risk factors.
  • In SEER-12 data for 1992–2021, overall laryngeal cancer incidence decreased (AAPC −2.85%; 95% CI −3.01 to −2.69).
  • In SEER-12 data, incidence-based mortality increased over 1992–2021 as a whole (AAPC 5.38%; 95% CI 3.33 to 7.48). After 2003 it decreased at −1.40% per year (95% CI −1.75% to −1.05%).
  • The concentration index for SDI-related inequality in laryngeal cancer DALYs moved from −0.04 (95% CI −0.08 to 0.00) in 1990 to −0.15 (95% CI −0.20 to −0.11) in 2021. The authors interpreted this as inequality persisting and increasing, with low-SDI regions bearing a disproportionately high burden.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that although global laryngeal cancer incidence and mortality rates have generally declined, the disease remains a considerable public health challenge, particularly among males and in low-income regions. They called for tobacco and alcohol control, screening, and resource allocation to low-SDI settings.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The study relied on GBD and SEER estimates, which may be influenced by modeling assumptions and limited data availability.
  • GBD data are modeled and may be affected by varying data sources, reporting delays, data quality and regional differences. This is the authors' explanation for discrepancies with SEER.
  • The study had no racial or ethnic information and only limited data on laryngeal cancer subtypes and stages, which prevented more detailed analysis.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Laryngeal Cancer, SEER, Epidemiology.

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