Cancer burden and risk in the Chinese population aged 55 years and above - A systematic analysis and comparison with the USA and Western Europe - Abstract

Sep 21, 2026

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The study analyzes cancer burden among Chinese adults aged 55 and above and compares outcomes with the USA and Western Europe. Using Global Burden of Disease 2019 data, the work evaluates 29 cancers and 34 risk factors, applying age-standardised incidence, death, DALY rates, and AAPC to assess patterns and change over time. In 2019, incident cases rose markedly versus 1990, while deaths and DALYs roughly doubled, with a clear male predominance and widening gender gap. Smoking and diet emerged as leading risk factors, and ambient particulate matter pollution increased annually. Overall trends declined across regions over 30 years, but lung and several other cancers increased in China, alongside economic development-related challenges. Future prevention is urged to balance development with health protection, targeting key groups, improving environments, and expanding screening.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Electronic The online supplementary material: version of this article contains supplementary material. © 2024 The Author(s) Cite as: Gao T, Tao Y, Li H, Liu X, Ma Y, Li H, Xian-Yu C, Deng N, Leng W, Luo J, Zhang C. Cancer burden and risk in the Chinese population aged 55 years and above: A systematic analysis and comparison with the USA and Western Europe. J Glob Health 2024;14:04014 . Cancer burden and risk in the Chinese population aged 55 years and above: A systematic analysis and comparison with the USA and Western Europe Teng-Yu Gao1*, Yu-Ting Tao1*, Hao-Yang Li1, Xin Liu1, Yu-Tong Ma1, Hui-Jun Li1, Chen-Yang Xian-Yu1, Nian-Jia Deng1, Wei-Dong Leng2, Jie Luo1,3†, Chao Zhang1† 1Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China 2Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China 3Department of Neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China *Joint first authorship. †Joint senior authorship. Correspondence to: Chao Zhang, MD Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine No.32, Renmin South Road, Shiyan 442000 China [zhangchao0803@126.com](zhangchao0803@126.com) Jie Luo, PhD Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine No.32, Renmin South Road, Shiyan 442000 China [taihehospital@yeah.net](taihehospital@yeah.net) Background We analysed the cancer burden among elderly Chinese people over the age of 55 years and compared them to USA and Western Europe to explore the cancer model in China. Methods We retrieved data on 29 cancers with 34 risk factors from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease database to evaluate the cancer burden in Chinese elderly individuals aged 55 years and older. We then used the age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardised death rate (ASDR), age-standardised disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate, and average annual percentage change (AAPC) to compare the characteristics and change trend of cancers among China, USA, and Western Europe. Results In 2019, the number of incident cases of 29 cancers among people aged 55 years and above in China increased more than 3-fold compared to 1990, while the number of deaths and DALYs approximately doubled. We also found that the cancer population in China was ageing; meanwhile, the cancer burden became significantly higher for men than for women, and the gap between men and women had widened. Cancers with the highest cancer DALYs were lung cancer (13 444 500; 95% uncertainty interval (UI) = 11 307 100, 15 853 700), stomach cancer (7 303 900; 95% UI = 6 094 600, 8 586 500), oesophageal cancer (4 633 500; 95% UI = 3 642 500, 5 601 200), colon and rectum cancer (4 386 500; 95% UI = 3 769 500, 5 067 200), liver cancer (2 915 100, 95% UI= 2 456 300, 3 463 900), and pancreatic cancer (2 028 400; 95% UI = 1 725 000, 2 354 900). Compared with 1990, the DALY rate and incidence rate of stomach cancer, oesophageal cancer, and liver cancer had markedly decreased. The DALY rate and incidence rate of lung, colon, rectum, and pancreatic cancer had increased significantly, as did the incidence rate of breast cancer in women. Smoking and diet were the top two cancer risk factors, and the impact of ambient particulate matter pollution on cancer increased each year. The overall 29 cancers age-standardised DALY rate and ASDR in China, USA, and Western Europe were similar, and all showed downward trend in the past 30 years. Compared with the USA and Western Europe, the age-standardised DALY rate of liver, nasopharyngeal, oesophageal, stomach, and cervical cancers in China was more prominent. The age-standardised DALY rate of lung cancer and colon and rectum cancer decreased annually in Western Europe and the USA, but increased in China. Conclusions Over the pa

FAQs

What data and metrics are used to compare cancer burden across regions?

The analysis uses Global Burden of Disease 2019 data covering 29 cancers and 34 risk factors. Age-standardised incidence rate, age-standardised death rate, age-standardised DALY rate, and average annual percentage change are used to compare China, the USA, and Western Europe.

How did cancer incidence, deaths, and DALYs change from 1990 to 2019 in China?

For people aged 55 and above, the number of incident cases of 29 cancers in China increased more than threefold from 1990 to 2019. Deaths and DALYs approximately doubled over the same period.

Which risk factors and cancer types showed major changes?

Smoking and diet were identified as the top two cancer risk factors, and ambient particulate matter pollution increased each year. Lung, colon and rectum, pancreatic cancers increased significantly, while DALY and incidence for stomach, oesophageal, and liver cancers decreased versus 1990.

Sep 21, 2026

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