Global, regional, and national burden of head and neck cancer in males and associated risk factors from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Our plain-English summary of Global, regional, and national burden of head and neck cancer in males and associated risk factors from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, by J. Jiang, Z. Xia, W. Yao (Frontiers in Oncology, 2025).

The study

• Authors: J. Jiang, Z. Xia, W. Yao
• Journal: Frontiers in Oncology
• Published: 2025;15:1607890
• Cited by: 2 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors, with higher incidence and mortality rates in men than in women, particularly for lip and oral cavity, nasopharyngeal, laryngeal, and other pharyngeal cancers. This study investigates global trends in the occurrence of these cancers in men from 1990 to 2021 and analyzes their changing trends to guide healthcare policymakers in resource allocation.

Methods: Using data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2021), this study assesses the global prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for male head and neck cancers. It also evaluates the relationship between cancer burden and economic development using the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) and analyzes the risk factors for male head and neck cancer mortality and DALYs.

Results: From 1990 to 2021, the impact of male head and neck cancers increased at varying rates. In 2021, there were 968,573 prevalent cases of lip and oral cavity cancer, 272,917 incident cases, 136,890 deaths, and 3,969,812 DALYs globally. The burden of nasopharyngeal, laryngeal, and other pharyngeal cancers was lower, with 385,913, 939,924, and 258,723 prevalent cases, respectively. The age-standardized incidence rates for all four cancers were positively correlated with the SDI. Key risk factors for male head and neck cancers include smoking and alcohol consumption. Additional risk factors include chewing tobacco for lip and oral cavity cancer deaths, formaldehyde exposure for nasopharyngeal cancer, and occupational exposure to sulfuric acid and asbestos for laryngeal cancer.

Conclusions: Lip and oral cavity cancer remains the most burdensome, while nasopharyngeal cancer is increasing in East and Southeast Asia. Laryngeal cancer has declined in high-SDI regions, while other pharyngeal cancers are rising. Gender and lifestyle are key risk factors, underscoring the need for early prevention, particularly in resource-limited areas. As the global population ages, targeted prevention and improved healthcare infrastructure are essential.

Copyright © 2025 Jiang, Xia and Yao.

In plain English

This article analysed existing estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021). It covered four head and neck cancers in males (lip and oral cavity, nasopharyngeal, laryngeal and other pharyngeal cancers) in 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2021. For laryngeal cancer, the risk factors examined were smoking, high alcohol use, and occupational exposure to sulfuric acid and to asbestos. No asbestos fiber type was named. Global laryngeal cancer deaths in males rose from 75,262 to 100,393, while the age-standardized death rate fell from 4.12 to 2.49 deaths per 100,000 population between 1990 and 2021. Smoking accounted for 72.4% of global laryngeal cancer deaths and heavy alcohol use for 14%. The article said occupational exposure to sulfuric acid and asbestos accounted for "3.2% and 3.8%, and 3.2% and 2.4%" of global deaths and disability-adjusted life years. That wording does not make clear which figure belongs to asbestos. Lip and oral cavity cancer had the largest burden, with 136,890 deaths in 2021. The authors concluded that this cancer bears the greatest burden. They noted that data gaps, especially in low-income countries, may lead to underestimates.

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 Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 estimates (described as a systematic analysis for GBD 2021), with trend analysis (estimated annual percentage change) and SDI correlation analysis
• Who was studied: Males in 204 countries and regions, 1990 to 2021, as represented in GBD 2021 estimates
• Exposure: GBD Level 4 risk factors. For laryngeal cancer: smoking, high alcohol use, and occupational exposure to sulfuric acid and asbestos (no fiber type specified). For lip and oral cavity cancer: smoking, high alcohol use, chewing tobacco. For nasopharyngeal cancer: smoking, high alcohol use, occupational formaldehyde. For other pharyngeal cancers: smoking and high alcohol use.
• Main results:
  • Among males globally, occupational exposure to sulfuric acid and asbestos was reported to account for 3.2% and 3.8%, and 3.2% and 2.4%, of global laryngeal cancer deaths and DALYs. The wording does not clearly assign each figure to sulfuric acid or to asbestos.
  • Smoking accounted for 72.4% of global laryngeal cancer deaths and 71.6% of DALYs in males.
  • Heavy alcohol consumption accounted for 14% of global laryngeal cancer deaths and 14.6% of DALYs in males.
  • Global male laryngeal cancer deaths rose from 75,262 (1990) to 100,393 (2021). The age-standardized death rate fell from 4.12 to 2.49 per 100,000 population (EAPC -1.79, 95% CI -1.87 to -1.71).
  • Global male laryngeal cancer incident cases grew from 109,878 to 171,788. The age-standardized incidence rate fell from 5.8 to 4.16 per 100,000 population (EAPC -1.21, 95% CI -1.29 to -1.14).
  • In 2021, lip and oral cavity cancer in males globally had 968,573 prevalent cases, 272,917 incident cases, 136,890 deaths and 3,969,812 DALYs.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that lip and oral cavity cancer bears the greatest global burden. They found nasopharyngeal cancer rising with a higher prevalence in East and Southeast Asia, laryngeal cancer incidence decreasing in most regions, and other pharyngeal cancers increasing. They identified gender and lifestyle as key factors.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Data deficiencies and differences across regions, particularly in low-income countries, may lead to underestimation of the actual cancer burden.
  • Lack of statistical data on cancer pathological subtypes affected subtype analysis.
  • The risk factor analysis was based only on available Level 4 GBD risk factors, which may introduce bias.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Pharyngeal Cancer, Incidence, Occupational Exposure, Laryngeal Cancer.

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