Incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years of female breast cancer in China, 2022

Sep 21, 2026

Breast cancer represents a major malignancy among Chinese women, yet updated epidemiological evidence and attributable burden were limited. Using high-quality cancer surveillance data from 700 population-based cancer registries, incidence and mortality for 2022 were estimated from baseline data and trends spanning 2010–2018. Female cases were defined as ICD-10 C50, and pathological types were mapped to ICD-O-3 codes. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were computed as YLL plus YLD.

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CategoryResearch & Report

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

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Introduction

Incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years of female breast cancer in China, 2022 Kexin Sun1, Bailin Zhang2, Shaoyuan Lei3, Rongshou Zheng1, Xin Liang4, Li Li1, Xiaolong Feng5, Siwei Zhang1, Hongmei Zeng1, Yifei Yao1, Peiqing Ma5, Shaoming Wang1, Ru Chen1, Bingfeng Han1, Wenqiang Wei1, Jie He6 1Office of Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; 2Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; 3Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; 4Medical Statistics Office, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; 5Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; 6Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China. Abstract Background: Breast cancer is ranked among the most prevalent malignancies in the Chinese female population. However, comprehensive reports detailing the latest epidemiological data and attributable disease burden have not been extensively documented. Methods: In 2018, high-quality cancer surveillance data were recorded in 700 population-based cancer registries in China. We extracted data on female breast cancers (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ICD-10]: C50) and estimated the incidence and mortality in 2022 according to the baseline data and corresponding trends from 2010 to 2018. Pathological types were classified according to the ICD for Oncology, 3rd Edition codes. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated asthe sum of the years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs) . Results: In 2022, approximately 357,200 new female breast cancer cases and 75,000 deaths occurred in China, accounting for 15.59% and 7.94% of total new cancer cases and deaths, respectively. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was 33.04 per 100,000 . When analyzed by pathological type, the ASIRs for papillary neoplasms, invasive breast carcinoma, rare and salivary gland-type tumors, and other types were 1.13, 29.79, 0.24, and 1.88 per 100,000, respectively. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was 6.10 per 100,000 . A total of 2,628,000 DALYs were found to be attributable to female breast cancer in China, comprising 2,278,300 YLLs and 349,700 YLDs. The ASIR, ASMR, and age-standardized rate (ASR) for DALYs in urban areas were consistently higher than those in rural areas. We observed a four-fold increase in the ASIR and ASR for DALYs and an eight-fold increase in the ASMR among females over 55 years compared with those aged under 55 years. Conclusion: These data provide invaluable insights into the latest epidemiology of female breast cancer in China and highlight the urgency for disease prevention and control strategy formulation. Keywords: Female; Breast cancer; Incidence; Mortality; DALYs; China; Early detection of cancer; Disease burden; Invasive breast carcinoma; Quality of life Introduction In 2022, breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Globally, there were 2.3 million cases and 0.7 million deaths of female breast cancer, accounting for 23. 8% and 15.4% of all cancer cases and deaths in this population, respectively. [1] | Access this art

FAQs

What data source was used to estimate female breast cancer incidence and mortality in 2022?

Estimates used high-quality cancer surveillance data recorded in 700 population-based cancer registries in China, combining baseline 2018 data with trends from 2010 to 2018.

How were disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) calculated in the study?

DALYs were calculated as the sum of years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs).

What were the key findings for 2022 incidence, mortality, and DALYs in China?

In 2022, about 357,200 new cases and 75,000 deaths were estimated. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were 33.04 and 6.10 per 100,000, respectively, and total DALYs were 2,628,000.

Sep 21, 2026

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