Global statistics and risk factors of neoplasms in the elderly, and the impact of aging on neoplasms from 1990 to 2021

Sep 23, 2026

Neoplasms and aging create a growing, uneven public health burden worldwide, especially among older adults. This study analyzes global, regional, and country-level patterns and trends for overall neoplasms and 34 specific neoplasms from 1990 to 2021, using incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) derived from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases. Decomposition analysis quantifies how aging contributes to these changes, while identifying key risk-factor drivers, including smoking and increasing drug-use-related mortality.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methods

Data sources and epidemiological indicators

Decomposition analysis

Results

Incidence, mortality, and DALYs in older adults

Sex, cancer-site trends, and SDI effects

Risk factors and 1990–2021 changes

Discussion

Original Research Global statistics and risk factors of neoplasms in the elderly, and the impact of aging on neoplasms from 1990 to 2021 Jieyan Wang, MDa , Youao Zhang, BMb, Pinhao Wang, BMb, Yajing Wang, BMc, HongruiZhang, BMc, Zixuan Jia, BMd, Yuang Wei, BMb, Hui Liang, MDa,* Background: Neoplasms and aging represent significant global public health issues, posing a considerable burden on health care systems worldwide. This study aims to investigate the patterns and trends of specific neoplasms within the category of neoplasms from 1990 to 2021. Methods: Data on overall neoplasms and 34 specific neoplasms from the globe, 21 regions, and 204 countries/territories were retrieved from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study. Incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were utilized as epidemiological indicators and corresponding risk factors to represent the health burden caused by neoplasms accurately. Decomposition analysis was employed to evaluate the influence of aging on neoplasms. Results: In 2021, the number of new neoplasm cases among individuals aged 55 and older was 33 901 264, with an incidence rate of 2281.4 per 100 000. The number of deaths due to neoplasms was 8 192 572, with a mortality rate of 551.32 per 100 000. The DALYs number was 170 885 851, with a DALY rate of 11 499.83 per 100 000. After age 65, the incidence rate was significantly higher among males than females, while the mortality rate remained higher for males. Skin neoplasms exhibited a rapid increase in incidence, while stomach cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma showed substantial declines in mortality and DALY rates. Additionally, the impact of aging on neoplasms increased with the rise in the socio-demographic index (SDI), with stomach cancer, gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and esophageal cancer being notably affected. Smoking remained the primary risk factor, peaking in high-middle SDI regions. From 1990 to 2021, drug use deaths emerged as the fastestgrowing risk factor, with a 134.56% increase in deaths and 114. 16% increase in DALYs, particularly in high SDI regions where growth reached 246.44% and 214.28%, respectively. Discussion: Neoplasms and aging jointly constitute a significant and growing global burden, with notable differences across gender, geography, and SDI levels. Health care professionals and policymakers should propose innovative preventive and healthcare strategies based on existing and emerging trends to alleviate the global neoplasm burden. Keywords: aging, Global Burden of Disease, mortality, neoplasms, trend analysis Introduction Neoplasms/tumors, which refer to abnormal and excessive proliferations of cells forming new growths beyond normal physiological needs and persisting to grow, are categorized into benign tumors (not cancer) and malignant tumors (also termed cancer)[1–3] . Among them, cancers pose a major and escalating global health challenge, particularly affecting the elderly population disproportionately [4] . This demographic group bears a heavier burden of cancer[4], with aging being a major factor influencing cancer incidence and mortality rates[5,6] . In 2020, aDepartment of Urology, People’s Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, b Nanfang Hospital, The First Clinical Medical College of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, cThe Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China and dSouthern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China J.W., Y.Z., and P.W. contributed equally to this work. Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article. *Corresponding authors. Address: Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua, House No. 38, Jinglong Construction Road, Shenzhen 518109, China. Tel.: 13823135788. E-mail: [lianghui8689@smu.edu.cn](lianghui8689@smu.edu.cn) (H. Liang); Nanfang H

FAQs

What data sources and indicators are used to quantify the burden of neoplasms?

Data for overall neoplasms and 34 specific neoplasms across 21 regions and 204 countries/territories are taken from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases study. Incidence, mortality, and DALYs are used as epidemiological indicators.

How is the impact of aging on neoplasms evaluated in the study?

A decomposition analysis is used to estimate how much changes in neoplasms are influenced by aging over time.

Which risk factors and cancer-site patterns stand out in the findings?

Smoking remains the primary risk factor, with peak effects in high-middle SDI regions. Drug-use deaths show the fastest growth from 1990 to 2021. Skin neoplasms increase rapidly in incidence, while stomach cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma show substantial declines in mortality and DALY rates.

Sep 23, 2026

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