Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index (QCI) of thyroid cancer: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017

Global burden of disease study analysis of thyroid cancer burden across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019

Background

The purpose of this study is to assess the burden of thyroid cancer over the course of 30 years in 204 countries and territories.

Methods

Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database was analyzed to extract information on prevalence, deaths, DALYs(disability-adjusted life-years), YLL(years of life los), YLD(years lived with disability), and their corresponding age-standardized rates at global, regional, and national levels. The primary focus of the study was to examine trends in thyroid cancer from 1990 to 2019, specifically looking at the Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC) for ASPR, ASDR, and ASDR. Additionally, the study investigated the relationship between cancer burden and the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI).

Results

Globally, there will be approximately 18.3 million thyroid cancer (TC) cases in 2019; China and the USA are projected to be the most significant with 310,327 and 220,711 cases (16.17 and 14.82 cases per 100,000 people, respectively).Over the period from 1990 to 2019, age-standardized prevalence rates exhibited a global rise, whereas deaths and DALYs saw a decrease(EAPC:1.63, -0.15- -0.14, respectively). Significantly, the age-standardized prevalence rate increased in 21 GBD regions, affecting 195 out of 204 countries or territories. Over the studied period, thyroid cancer cases, deaths, and DALYs were consistently higher among females than males. Furthermore, a higher Socio-demographic Index was associated with increased age-standardized prevalence rates.

Correlation between socioeconomic indices and epidemiological indices of thyroid cancer from 1990 to 2019 year: a global ecologic study

BACKGROUND

The incidence of thyroid cancer as the most common type of endocrine gland malignancy has risen more significantly than any malignancies in recent years. Estimated new cases of thyroid cancer in the United States in 2024 were 12,500 and 31,520 for men and women, respectively, and estimated deaths were 1,180 for women and 990 for men. Indices of socio-economic have been commonly used to measure the development of countries. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the correlation between indices of socioeconomic status and epidemiological indices of thyroid cancer throughout the world. In addition, this study has compared two indices of human development and a socio-demographic index.

METHOD

This worldwide ecological study used data on thyroid cancer incidence, mortality, human development index (HDI), and sociodemographic index (SDI) between 1990 and 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). We evaluated the correlation between incidence and mortality rates with socioeconomic indices by using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Furthermore, for the first time, the generalized additive model (GAM) was employed for modeling. The statistical software R, version 4.2.2, was used to conduct all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The correlation between the incidence of thyroid cancer and the HDI was significant and positive (r = 0.47, p-value < 0.001). While the correlation between thyroid cancer mortality and HDI was not statistically significant (r = 0.01, p-value = 0.076). Besides, the incidence of thyroid cancer was significantly positively correlated with SDI (r = 0.48, p-value < 0.001). The multiple GAM showed that for one unit increase in HDI, the risk of thyroid cancer was increased by 2.1 times (RR = 2.1, 95%CI = 2.04 to 2.19), and for one unit increase in SDI, the risk of thyroid cancer was shown to increase by 2.2 times. (RR = 2.2, 95%CI = 2.19 to 2.35).

CONCLUSION

It has been evident that countries with higher incidence of thyroid cancer display higher socioeconomic indices. While, countries with higher socioeconomic indices, report lower mortality rates. However, based on the modeling results, it can be concluded that the SDI is slightly more useful in this regard. Therefore, examining the epidemiological indices of thyroid cancer by socio-economic indices can be useful to reflect a clear image of the distribution of this cancer in each country, and can be used for planning cancer prevention strategies.

Assessing and projecting the global burden of thyroid cancer, 1990-2030: Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study

Background

This study aims to assess the global incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of thyroid cancer between 1990 and 2030.

Methods

Our study analysed Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 data from 204 countries, spanning 1990-2019. It focused on age-standardised thyroid cancer incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), using the sociodemographic index (SDI) for assessing socioeconomic levels. Generalised additive models (GAMs) projected thyroid cancer trends for 2020-2030.

Results

The global burden of thyroid cancer is predicted to increase significantly from 1990 to 2030. The number of thyroid cancer incidence cases is projected to rise from 233 846.64 in 2019 to 305 078.08 by 2030, representing an approximate 30.46% increase. The ASIR (age-standardised incidence rate) is expected to continue its upward trend (estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) = 0.83). The age-standardised death rate (ASDR) for thyroid cancer is projected to decline in both genders, more notably in women (EAPC = -0.34) compared to men (EAPC = -0.17). The burden of disease escalates with advancing age, with significant regional disparities. Regions with lower SDI, particularly in South Asia, are anticipated to witness substantial increases in thyroid cancer incidence from 2020 to 2030. The overall disease burden is expected to rise, especially in countries with low to middle SDI, reflecting broader socio-economic and health care shifts.

Conclusions

This study highlights significant regional and gender-specific variations in thyroid cancer, with notable increases in incidence rates, particularly in areas like South Asia. These trends suggest improvements in diagnostic capabilities and the influence of socio-economic factors. Additionally, the observed decline in mortality rates across various regions reflects advancements in thyroid cancer management. The findings underline the critical importance of regionally tailored prevention strategies, robust cancer registries, and public health initiatives to address the evolving landscape of thyroid cancer and mitigate health disparities globally.

Global, Regional, and National Quality of Care Index (QCI) of Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017

BACKGROUND

Gastric Cancer (GC)is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. We aimed to compare the quality of care of GC at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2017 in different age, sex, and socio-demographic groups using the quality-of-care index.

MATERIAL

METHOD: We used Mortality to Incidence Ratio, DALY to Prevalence Ratio, YLL to YLD Ratio, and Prevalence to Incidence Ratio, that all indicate the quality of care. Then, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), these values are combined. A new index called QCI (Quality of Care Index), which indicates quality, is introduced to compare the quality of care in different countries in 1990 and 2017. Scores were calculated and scaled 0-100, with higher scores indicating better status.

RESULTS

The global QCI of GC in 1990 and 2017 was 35.7 and 66.7, respectively. The QCI index is 89.6 and 16.4 in high and low SDI countries, respectively. In 2017, Japan had the highest QCI with a 100 score. Japan was followed by South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and the United States with 99.5, 98.4, 98.3, and 90.0. On the other hand, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Papua New Guinea, Lesotho, and Afghanistan with 11.6, 13.0, 13.1, 13.5, and 13.7 had the worst QCI, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The quality of care of GC has increased worldwide from 1990 to 2017. Also, higher SDI was associated with more quality of care. We recommend conducting more screening and therapeutic programs for early detection and to improve gastric cancer treatment in developing countries.

Social Determinants of Health and Disparities in Thyroid Care

BACKGROUND

There have been documented racial and ethnic disparities in the care and clinical outcomes of patients with thyroid disease.

CONTEXT

Key to improving disparities in thyroid care is understanding the context for racial and ethnic disparities, which includes acknowledging and addressing social determinants of health. Thyroid disease diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship care are impacted by patient- and system-level factors, including socioeconomic status and economic stability, language, education, health literacy, and health care systems and health policy. The relationship between these factors and downstream clinical outcomes is intricate and complex, underscoring the need for a multifaceted approach to mitigate these disparities.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the factors that contribute to disparities in thyroid disease is critically important. There is a need for future targeted and multilevel interventions to address these disparities, while considering societal, health care, clinician, and patient perspectives.

Burden and quality of care index of chronic kidney disease: Global Burden of Disease analysis for 1990-2019

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) imposes a heavy obscure burden on individuals and health systems. Besides its burden, the quality of care of CKD is less well investigated. In this study, we aimed to explore the global, regional and national trends of CKD burden and quality of care.

METHODS

The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 data were used. Trends of incidence, prevalence, deaths and disability-adjusted life years were studied for the 1990-2019 period in the global aspect. By generating four secondary indices to assess different aspects of quality of care the quality of care index (QCI) was developed to explore the care provided for CKD. Inequities and disparities between various geographic, socio-demographic and age stratifications, and sex were studied using the QCI values.

RESULTS

In 2019, there were 18 986 903 (95% uncertainty interval 17 556 535 to 20 518 156) incident cases of CKD, globally. The overall global QCI score had increased slightly from 78.4 in 1990 to 81.6 in 2019, and it was marginally better in males (QCI score 83.5) than in females (80.3). The highest QCI score was observed in the European region with a score of 92.5, while the African region displayed the lowest QCI with 61.7. Among the age groups, the highest QCI was for children aged between 5 and 9 years old (92.0), and the lowest was in the age group of 20-24 year olds (65.5).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that significant disparities remain regarding the quality of care of CKD, and to reach better care for CKD, attention to and care of minorities should be reconsidered. The evidence presented in this study would benefit health policymakers toward better and more efficient control of CKD burden alongside improving the care of this condition.

Burden of Ischemic Heart Disease and Its Attributable Risk Factors in North Africa and the Middle East, 1990 to 2019: Results From the GBD Study 2019

BACKGROUND

The North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region has one of the highest burdens of ischemic heart disease (IHD) worldwide. This study reports the contemporary epidemiology of IHD in NAME.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We estimated the incidence, prevalence, deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and premature mortality of IHD, and its attributable risk factors in NAME from 1990 to 2019 using the results of the GBD (Global Burden of Disease study 2019). In 2019, 0.8 million lives and 18.0 million DALYs were lost due to IHD in NAME. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized DALY rate of IHD significantly decreased by 33.3%, mostly due to the reduction of years of life lost rather than years lived with disability. In 2019, the proportion of premature death attributable to IHD was higher in NAME compared with global measures: 26.8% versus 16.9% for women and 18.4% versus 14.8% for men, respectively. The age-standardized DALY rate of IHD attributed to metabolic risks, behavioral risks, and environmental/occupational risks significantly decreased by 28.7%, 37.8%, and 36.4%, respectively. Dietary risk factors, high systolic blood pressure, and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were the top 3 risks contributing to the IHD burden in most countries of NAME in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

In 2019, IHD was the leading cause of death and lost DALYs in NAME, where premature death due to IHD was greater than the global average. Despite the great reduction in the age-standardized DALYs of IHD in NAME from 1990 to 2019, this region still had the second-highest burden of IHD in 2019 globally.

Central lymph nodes in frozen sections can effectively guide extended lymph node resection for papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The scope of lateral neck lymph node dissection (LND) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains controversial. Our research aimed to explore the value of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in frozen sections for predicting neck lateral lymph node metastasis (NLLNM) and to guide clinical surgeons in performing surgical lymph node dissection.

PATIENTS

A total of 275 patients with PTC with suspected 'Cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM, including CLNM and NLLNM)' underwent unilateral or bilateral thyroidectomy and an intraoperative frozen diagnosis of central lymph nodes (LNs), as well as central and neck lateral LND. Validity indices and consistency of central LNs in frozen sections were calculated. In total, 216 patients then met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the follow-up study. The clinical and pathological data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the number, metastatic diameter, and the ratio of CLNM to NLLNM was investigated.

RESULTS

CLNM in frozen and paraffin-embedded sections was associated with NLLNM. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed the following risk factors for NLLNM metastasis: maximum diameter, total number, and ratio of metastatic LNs. A significant result was obtained when a cut-off value of 2.050 mm for the maximum metastatic diameter, 5.5 in the total number, and 0.5342 for the CLNM ratio level was used. Interaction term analyses showed that the association between the number of CLNM and NLLNM differed according to maximum diameter.

CONCLUSION

Central LNs in frozen sections accurately predicted NLLNM. In patients with PTC with >5 CLNMs, ≥2 and ≤5 CLNMs and maximum metastatic diameter > 2 mm, neck lateral LND should be considered. Our findings will facilitate the identification of patients who are likely to benefit from extended lateral neck LND.

Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index (QCI) of bipolar disorder: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 to 2019

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorders (BD) are significant debilitating mental problems. Here, we introduced a novel index as a representative of the quality of care delivered to BD patients worldwide.

METHODS

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study was the primary data source on BD, including prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs). Secondary indices were created and transformed into a single component that accounted for most of the variation, using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method. This component, reported on a scale of 0 to 100, was presented as the quality of care index (QCI). The QCI was estimated in different age groups and areas within a 30-year time frame. Gender disparity ratio (GDR), as the female-to-male ratio of the QCI, was reported.

RESULTS

The Global QCI slightly increased from 50.4 in 1990 to 53.1 in 2019. The GDR value was 0.95 in 2019. The high-middle SDI quintile had the highest QCI estimate of 63.0, and the lowest QCI value of 36.9 was regarding the low SDI quintile. Western-Pacific Region and South-East Asia had the highest and lowest QCI among WHO regions, with estimates of 70.7 and 31.2, respectively. The age group of 20 to 24 years old patients reported the lowest QCI estimate of 30.2, and the highest QCI of 59.8 was regarding 40 to 44 years old patients.

CONCLUSION

The QCI in BD had only a subtle increase from 1990 to 2019 and is in need of further improvement. Inequalities between different regions and age groups are considerable and require proper attention.

Global, regional, and national thyroid cancer age-period-cohort modeling and Bayesian predictive modeling studies: A systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019

Objective

To analyze the changing trend of the global burden of thyroid cancer (TC) and its associated risk factors using data from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 (GBD 2019).

Methods

This study utilized the GBD 2019 database to analyze the burden trend of TC in various regions and countries from 1990 to 2019, while also examining the age-period-cohort (APC) effect. Additionally, the study used Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) and predictive models to forecast TC incidence up until 2030.

Results

According to data from 2019, there were 233,846.64 (95 % UI 211,636.89-252,806.55) cases of TC worldwide. The burden of TC varies among regions and countries, with higher incidence rates observed in moderate and above SDI regions. Age and gender also play a role, with incidence rates peaking in the >95 age group for men and the 70-74 age group for women. Additionally, women have a higher incidence than men. The APC model revealed that the impact of age was most significant among individuals aged 95 years and older, while it was lowest among those aged 0-14 years. Additionally, the period effect showed a relatively low risk of morbidity with a Period RR < 0 during 1990-2004 and a high relative risk of morbidity with a Period RR > 0 during 2005-2019. Furthermore, the cohort effect demonstrated that the relative risk of developing the disease was lower before 1950 and higher after 1950. Predicted values show an increasing trend in thyroid incidence over the next 30 years.

Conclusions

The findings of this study highlight the continued significance of thyroid cancer as a global public health issue. It is crucial to develop targeted interventions that address the specific risk factors associated with thyroid cancer. Furthermore, health policies should be customized and adapted to the unique needs of different regions and populations.

Global and regional quality of care index (QCI) by gender and age in oesophageal cancer: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the quality of care by age and gender in oesophageal cancer using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database.

METHODS

Patients aged 20 and over with oesophageal cancer were included in this longitudinal study using GBD 1990-2019 data. We used the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) to classify the regions. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method to calculate the Quality of Care Index (QCI). The QCI was rescaled into a 0-100 single index, demonstrating that the higher the score, the better the QC.

RESULTS

The age-standardized QCI for oesophageal cancer dramatically increased from 23.5 in 1990 to 41.1 in 2019 for both sexes, globally. The high SDI regions showed higher QCI than the rest of the regions (45.1 in 1990 and 65.7 in 2019) whereas the low SDI regions had the lowest QCI, which showed a 4.5% decrease through the years (from 13.3 in 1990 to 12.7 in 2019). Globally, in 2019, the QCI showed the highest scores for patients aged 80-84, reported 48.2, and the lowest score for patients aged 25-29 reported 31.5, for both sexes. Globally, in 2019, age-standardized Gender Disparity Ratio (GDR) was 1.2, showing higher QCI in females than males.

CONCLUSION

There were fundamental differences in the QCI both globally and regionally between different age groups as well as between males and females. To achieve the goal of providing high-quality services equally to people in need in all over the world, health systems need to invest in effective diagnostic services, treatments, facilities, and equipment and to plan for screening and surveillance of high-risk individuals.

A Global, Regional, and National Survey on Burden and Quality of Care Index of Multiple Sclerosis: Global Burden of Disease Systematic Analysis 1990-2019

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurologic autoimmune disorder. We have used a newly introduced measure, Quality of Care Index (QCI), which is associated with the efficacy of care given to patients suffering from MS.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were to report and compare the quality of care given to MS patients in different regions and country.

METHODS

Primary measures were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) from 1990 to 2019. Secondary measures (mortality-to-incidence ratio, DALY-to-prevalence ratio, prevalence-to-incidence ratio, and YLL-to-YLD ratio) were combined using principal component analysis, to form an essential component (QCI) (0-100 index with higher values representing better condition).

RESULTS

In 2019, there were 59,345 (95% UI: 51,818-66,943) new MS incident cases globally. Global QCI of 88.4 was calculated for 2019. At national level, Qatar had the highest quality of care (100) followed by Kuwait (98.5) and Greenland (98.1). The lowest QCI was observed in Kiribati (13.5), Nauru (31.5), and Seychelles (36.3), respectively. Most countries have reached gender equity during the 30 years. Also, QCI was lowest in ages from 55 to 80 in global scale.

CONCLUSION

MS QCI is better among those countries of higher socioeconomic status, possibly due to better healthcare access and early detection in these regions. Countries could benefit from adopting the introduced QCI to evaluate the quality of care given to MS patients at national and global level.

A Global, Regional, and National Burden and Quality of Care Index for Schizophrenia: Global Burden of Disease Systematic Analysis 1990-2019

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder usually presented in adulthood that affects roughly 0.3 percent of the population. The disease contributes to more than 13 million years lived with disability the global burden of disease. The current study aimed to provide new insights into the quality of care in Schizophrenia via the implementation of the newly introduced quality of care index (QCI) into the existing data.

STUDY DESIGN

The data from the global burden of disease database was used for schizophrenia. Two secondary indices were calculated from the available indices and used in a principal component analysis to develop a proxy of QCI for each country. The QCI was then compared between different sociodemographic index (SDI) and ages. To assess the disparity in QCI between the sexes, the gender disparity ratio (GDR) was also calculated and analyzed in different ages and SDIs.

STUDY RESULTS

The global QCI proxy score has improved between 1990 and 2019 by roughly 13.5%. Concerning the gender disparity, along with a rise in overall GDR the number of countries having a GDR score of around one has decreased which indicates an increase in gender disparity regarding quality of care of schizophrenia. Bhutan and Singapore had 2 of the highest QCIs in 2019 while also showing GDR scores close to one.

CONCLUSIONS

While the overall conditions in the quality of care have improved, significant disparities and differences still exist between different countries, genders, and ages in the quality of care regarding schizophrenia.

The quality of care index for low back pain: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 1990-2017

BACKGROUND

. Low back pain is one of the major causes of morbidity worldwide. Studies on low back pain quality of care are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of care of low back pain worldwide and compare gender, age, and socioeconomic groups.

METHODS

. This study used GBD data from 1990 to 2017 from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) website. Extracted data included low back pain incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and years lived with disability (YLDs). DALYs to prevalence ratio and prevalence to incidence ratio were calculated and used in the principal component analysis (PCA) to make a proxy of the quality-of-care index (QCI). Age groups, genders, and countries with different socioeconomic statuses regarding low back pain care quality from 1990 to 2017 were compared.

RESULTS

The proxy of QCI showed a slight decrease from 36.44 in 1990 to 35.20 in 2017. High- and upper-middle-income countries showed a decrease in the quality of care from 43.17 to 41.57 and from 36.37 to 36.00, respectively, from 1990 to 2017. On the other hand, low and low-middle-income countries improved, from a proxy of QCI of 20.99 to 27.89 and 27.74 to 29.36, respectively.

CONCLUSION

. Despite improvements in the quality of care for low back pain in low and lower-middle-income countries between 1990 and 2017, there is still a large gap between these countries and higher-income countries. Continued steps must be taken to reduce healthcare barriers in these countries.

The association of cervical cancer screening and quality of care: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background

Improving the quality of care is vital to enhance outcomes for cervical cancer patients. However, the inequality of cervical cancer care was seldomly assessed.

Methods

We collected the data of cervical cancer burden from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 database, and constructed the Quality of Care Index (QCI) using principle component analysis. Then the disparity of QCI across regions and populations were evaluated. The association between cervical cancer screening coverage and QCI weas also explored.

Results

Quality of cervical cancer care was of disparity across regions with different development levels, with a widening gap between low-income regions and others. Cervical cancer QCI dropped rapidly after the age of 35. Cervical cancer screening coverage was positively associated with QCI, and this association was stronger in countries with low- and middle-development levels.

Conclusions

Regions with a low development level and the middle-aged women were vulnerable in QCI improvement. Higher screening coverage was associated with better cervical cancer QCI, implying that expanding cervical cancer screening coverage may be an effective strategy to improve the quality of cervical cancer care.

Global and regional quality of care index for prostate cancer: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study 1990-2019

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with a significant burden on societies and healthcare providers. We aimed to develop a metric for PCa quality of care that could demonstrate the disease's status in different countries and regions (e.g., socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles) and assist in improving healthcare policies.

METHODS

Basic burden of disease indicators for various regions and age-groups were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019, which then were used to calculate four secondary indices: mortality to incidence ratio, DALYs to prevalence ratio, prevalence to incidence ratio, and YLLs to YLDs ratio. These four indices were combined through a principal component analysis (PCA), producing the quality of care index (QCI).

RESULTS

PCa's age-standardized incidence rate increased from 34.1 in 1990 to 38.6 in 2019, while the age-standardized death rate decreased in the same period (18.1 to 15.3). From 1990 to 2019, global QCI increased from 74 to 84. Developed regions (high SDI) had the highest PCa QCIs in 2019 (95.99), while the lowest QCIs belonged to low SDI countries (28.67), mainly from Africa. QCI peaked in age groups 50 to 54, 55 to 59, or 65 to 69, depending on the socio-demographic index.

CONCLUSIONS

Global PCa QCI stands at a relatively high value (84 in 2019). Low SDI countries are affected the most by PCa, mainly due to the lack of effective preventive and treatment methods in those regions. In many developed countries, QCI decreased or stopped rising after recommendations against routine PCa screening in the 2010-2012 period, highlighting the role of screening in reducing PCa burden.

National and subnational burden of female and male breast cancer and risk factors in Iran from 1990 to 2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most burdensome cancers worldwide. Despite advancements in diagnostic and treatment modalities, developing countries are still dealing with increasing burdens and existing disparities. This study provides estimates of BC burden and associated risk factors in Iran at the national and subnational levels over 30 years (1990-2019).

METHODS

Data on BC burden for Iran were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study from 1990 to 2019. GBD estimation methods were applied to explore BC incidence, prevalence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and attributable burden to risk factors based on the GBD risk factors hierarchy. Moreover, decomposition analysis was performed to find the contribution of population growth, aging, and cause-specific incidence in the total incidence change. Age-standardized rates (per 100,000 population) and 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) were reported based on sex, age, and socio-demographic index (SDI).

RESULTS

Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) increased from 18.8 (95% UI 15.3-24.1)/100,000 in 2019 to 34.0 (30.7-37.9)/100,000 in 2019 among females and from 0.2/100,000 (0.2-0.3) to 0.3/100,000 (0.3-0.4) among males. Age-standardized deaths rate (ASDR) increased slightly among females from 10.3 (8.2-13.6)/100,000 in 1990 to 11.9 (10.8-13.1)/100,000 in 2019 and remained almost the same among males-0.2/100,000 (0.1-0.2). Age-standardized DALYs rate also increased from 320.2 (265.4-405.4) to 368.7 (336.7-404.3) among females but decreased slightly in males from 4.5 (3.5-5.8) to 4.0 (3.5-4.5). Of the 417.6% increase in total incident cases from 1990-2019, 240.7% was related to cause-specific incidence. In both genders, the BC burden increased by age, including age groups under 50 before routine screening programs, and by SDI levels; the high and high-middle SDI regions had the highest BC burden in Iran. Based on the GBD risk factors hierarchy, high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and alcohol were estimated to have the most and the least attributed DALYs for BC among females, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BC burden increased from 1990 to 2019 in both genders, and considerable discrepancies were found among different provinces and SDI quintiles in Iran. These increasing trends appeared to be associated with social and economic developments and changes in demographic factors. Improvements in registry systems and diagnostic capacities were also probably responsible for these growing trends. Raising general awareness and improving screening programs, early detection measures, and equitable access to healthcare systems might be the initial steps to tackle the increasing trends.

Epidemiology of Brain and Other Central Nervous System Cancers in the North Africa and Middle East Region: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019

OBJECTIVE

To present estimates of prevalence and incidence of and contributors to central nervous system (CNS) cancers, death, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years from 1990 to 2019 in North Africa and the Middle East.

METHODS

Primary measures were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease 2019. Contribution of various factors to observed incidence and mortality changes was investigated with decomposition and age-period-cohort analyses.

RESULTS

In 2019, 27,529 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 18,554-32,579; percent change compared with 1990: +152.5%) new CNS cancers and 17,773 (95% UI:12,096-20,936; percent change compared with 1990: +111.5%) deaths occurred. Meanwhile, 71.0% increase led to 71,6271 (95% UI: 493,932-848,226) disability-adjusted life years in 2019 with a halved years of life lost/years lived with disability ratio of 66.3% (proxy of worse care quality). Altogether, 97,195 (95% UI: 64,216-115,621; percent change compared with 1990: +280.5%) patients with prevalent cases were alive in 2019. All decomposed indices, including aging, cause-specific incidence, and population growth, contributed substantially to increased incidence of CNS cancers. Moreover, age brackets, study period (1990-2019), and 5-year cohorts all demonstrated positive effects, while age had a mixed influence in different age groups. Palestine harbored the highest age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate in 2019 (232.0 [95% UI: 175.6-279.5]), while Tunisia had the lowest (41.8 [95% UI: 27.6-57.1] per 100,000). The greatest burden increase was found in Saudi Arabia (32.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of CNS cancers is rising in North Africa and the Middle East, with major heterogeneities among countries. Improved early detection and health care access across countries are required to bridge inequalities and address the rising burden of CNS malignancies.

National and subnational burden of brain and central nervous system cancers in Iran, 1990-2019: Results from the global burden of disease study 2019

INTRODUCTION

Central nervous system cancers (CNS cancers) impose a significant burden upon healthcare systems worldwide. Currently, the lack of a comprehensive study to assess various epidemiological indexes of CNS cancers on national and subnational scales in Iran can hamper healthcare planning and resource allocation in this regard. This study aims to fill this gap by providing estimates of CNS cancer epidemiological measures on national and subnational levels in Iran from 1990 to 2019.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a part of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 that contains epidemiological measures including prevalence, incidence, mortality, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), Years Lived with Disability (YLDs), and Years of Life Lost (YLLs) of CNS cancers. Age standardization was utilized for comparing different provinces.

RESULTS

In 2019, 5811 (95% Uncertainty Interval: 2942-7046) national new cases and 3494 (1751-4173) deaths due to CNS cancers were reported. National age-standardized incidence (ASIR), deaths (ASDR), and DALYs rates were 7.3 (3.7-8.8), 4.6 (2.3-5.5), and 156.4 (82.0-187.0) per 100,000 in 2019, respectively. Subnational results revealed that ASDR and ASIR have increased in the past 30 years in all provinces. Although incidence rates have increased in all age groups and genders since 1990, death rates have remained the same for most age groups and genders except for young patients aged under 15, where a decrease in mortality and YLLs can be observed.

CONCLUSION

The incidence, deaths, and DALYs of CNS cancers increased at national and subnational levels. These findings should be considered for planning and resource allocation.

Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index of liver cirrhosis by cause from global burden of disease 1990-2019

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases are complex disorders with a known burden. Currently health systems have different approaches to dealing with this issue. The objective of this study is to describe the burden attributed to and quality of care for cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases.

METHODS

Data of cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases extracted from Global-Burden-of-Diseases 2019. Four indicators, including mortality to incidence ratio, prevalence to incidence ratio, disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs) to prevalence ratio, and years-of-life-lost (YLLs) to years-lived-with-disability (YLDs) ratio, were defined and combined by the principal-components-analysis to construct the Quality-of-Care-Index (QCI).

RESULTS

The global QCI of cirrhosis increased from 71.0 in 1990 to 79.3 in 2019. The QCI showed a favorable situation in higher SDI countries compared with lower SDI countries, with a QCI of 86.8 in high SDI countries and 60.1 in low SDI countries. The highest QCI was found in Western Pacific Region (90.2), and the lowest was for African Region (60.4). Highest QCI belonged to the 50-54 age group (99.5), and the lowest was for the 30.34 age group (70.9). Among underlying causes of cirrhosis, the highest QCI belonged to alcohol use, followed by hepatitis C and NAFLD with QCIs of 86.1, 85.3, and 81.1.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a considerable variation in the QCI of cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases. Countries with low QCI, mainly located in developing regions, need organized action to control the burden of cirrhosis and its underlying causes and improve their quality of care.

National and subnational survey on diabetes burden and quality of care index in Iran: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 1990-2019

Purpose

Diabetes care is one of the major healthcare problems . This study aimed to introduce a recently-developed Quality of Care Index (QCI) for type 2 diabetes and utilized it to compare different genders, age groups, and Iranian provinces.

Methods

From the Global Burden of Disease 1990-2019 database, we obtained primary epidemiologic measures and combined them to build four secondary indices, all indicating the quality of care provided to patients. We utilized the principal component analysis (PCA) method to calculate the substantial component named QCI (with a scale of 0-100). Gender inequality was shown by the gender disparity ratio (GDR), defining female to male QCI.

Results

National QCI ranged from 43.0 in 1990 to 38.6 in 2019. By excluding the more frequent outlier province; Tehran as the Capital of Iran, the QCI score reached 50.27 in 2019. The GDR decreased from 1.04 to 0.95. QCI indicated rather more favorable conditions in Iranian provinces with a higher socio-demographic index (SDI). Conversely, provinces with a lower SDI had worse QCI. In 2019, Tehran, the capital of Iran, with the highest (58.5), and South Khorasan with the lowest QCIs (0.4) were the two Iranian provinces' extremes. Moreover, the elderly QCI improved in 2019.

Conclusion

During 1990-2019, there are remarkable disparities between Iran's provinces, genders and age groups. The equitable and widespread provision of facilities should be considered along with the decentralization of healthcare resources.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-01108-x.

Associations Between Mental Health and Oral Health in Saudi Arabia: An Online Survey-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background Mental disorders cause psychological stress and lead to poor lifestyle behaviors and an increased risk of poor oral health. This study aims to explore the potential association between mental illnesses with oral health and personal oral care in the Saudi population. Methodology Saudi Arabians aged ≥18 years were eligible to participate in this cross-sectional study. The study questionnaire had the following five sections: demographics, a brief depression severity measure (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), a brief generalized anxiety disorder measurement tool (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), an oral health measurement tool, and personal oral health care. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The results were presented as numbers and (percentages) or mean and standard deviations (SD). Results This study included a total of 522 participants. The mean score for dental health and care was 4 (SD = 1.9) and 13.6 (SD = 1.9), respectively, reflecting a moderate level of dental health and positive dental care. Males had better oral health, whereas females had better dental care. A college degree or higher was linked to better dental care, and chronic diseases were linked to lower dental health scores. Minimal depression had a significantly higher dental care score than mild-to-severe depression. Depression and anxiety did not affect dental health. Conclusions This study showed that minimal depression was associated with a higher dental care score than mild-to-severe depression. However, the degree of depression was not associated with dental health. Furthermore, anxiety had no association with dental health or care.

A global, regional, and national survey on burden and Quality of Care Index (QCI) of bladder cancer: The global burden of disease study 1990-2019

INTRODUCTION

Bladder cancer (BCa) is the second most common genitourinary cancer and among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. We aimed to assess BCa quality of care (QOC) utilizing a novel multi-variable quality of care index (QCI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease 1990-2019 database. QCI scores were calculated using four indices of prevalence-to-incidence ratio, Disability-Adjusted Life Years-to-prevalence ratio, mortality-to-incidence ratio, and Years of Life Lost-to-Years Lived with Disability ratio. We used principal component analysis to allocate 0-100 QCI scores based on region, age groups, year, and gender.

RESULTS

Global burden of BCa is on the rise with 524,305 (95% UI 475,952-569,434) new BCa cases and 228,735 (95% UI 210743-243193) deaths in 2019, but age-standardized incidence and mortality rates did not increase. Global age-standardized QCI improved from 75.7% in 1990 to 80.9% in 2019. The European and African regions had the highest and lowest age-standardized QCI of 89.7% and 37.6%, respectively. Higher Socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles had better QCI scores, ranging from 90.1% in high SDI to 30.2% in low SDI countries in 2019; however, 5-year QCI improvements from 2014 to 2019 were 0.0 for high and 4.7 for low SDI countries.

CONCLUSION

The global QCI increased in the last 30 years, but the gender disparities remained relatively unchanged despite substantial improvements in several regions. Higher SDI quintiles had superior QOC and less gender- and age-based inequalities compared to lower SDI countries. We encourage countries to implement the learned lessons and improve their QOC shortcomings.

Epidemiology, burden, and attributable risks of infective endocarditis in Iran and its provinces: From 1990 to 2019

BACKGROUND

Endocarditis is a potentially life-threatening infectious disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality and an escalating incidence in recent decades. In this study, as a part of the global burden of disease (GBD) 2019 study, we intend to report endocarditis burden in Iran at national and provincial levels from 1990 to 2019.

METHOD

This study was conducted using GBD 2019 study data on endocarditis from 1990 to 2019. We gathered incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality rates in Iran and its 31 provinces by sex and age groups as epidemiological indices for endocarditis burden. Further decomposition analysis was also performed to delineate the endocarditis new cases trend.

RESULTS

On the country scale, age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized DALYs rate were (16.5 (95% uncertainty interval 13.7 to 19.8), 3.4 (2.9 to 4.1), 0.6 (0.5 to 0.9), and 14.4 (12.0 to 21.1) in 2019, respectively. Decomposition analysis showed that only 59.2% of the overall new cases increase (114.1%) was caused by the incidence rate change. All estimated age-standardized rates were higher in men in 1990 and 2019 with a ratio of 1.1-1.5.

CONCLUSION

The ASIR and ASPR of endocarditis increased, and the ASMR and age-standardized DALYs rate declined over the past 30 years in Iran, nearly all the provinces followed the same pattern with North Khorasan having the Highest ASIR, ASPR, ASMR, and DALYs rates in both years. High systolic blood pressure (SBP) had the greatest attributed burden among risk factors.

National, sub-national, and risk-attributed burden of thyroid cancer in Iran from 1990 to 2019

An updated exploration of the burden of thyroid cancer across a country is always required for making correct decisions. The objective of this study is to present the thyroid cancer burden and attributed burden to the high Body Mass Index (BMI) in Iran at national and sub-national levels from 1990 to 2019. The data was obtained from the GBD 2019 study estimates. To explain the pattern of changes in incidence from 1990 to 2019, decomposition analysis was conducted. Besides, the attribution of high BMI in the thyroid cancer DALYs and deaths were obtained. The age-standardized incidence rate of thyroid cancer was 1.57 (95% UI: 1.33–1.86) in 1990 and increased 131% (53–191) until 2019. The age-standardized prevalence rate of thyroid cancer was 30.19 (18.75–34.55) in 2019 which increased 164% (77–246) from 11.44 (9.38–13.85) in 1990. In 2019, the death rate, and Disability-adjusted life years of thyroid cancer was 0.49 (0.36–0.53), and 13.16 (8.93–14.62), respectively. These numbers also increased since 1990. The DALYs and deaths attributable to high BMI was 1.91 (0.95–3.11) and 0.07 (0.04–0.11), respectively. The thyroid cancer burden and high BMI attributed burden has increased from 1990 to 2019 in Iran. This study and similar studies’ results can be used for accurate resource allocation for efficient management and all potential risks’ modification for thyroid cancer with a cost-conscious view.

Trends in Global, Regional, and National Burden and Quality of Care Index for Liver Cancer by Cause from Global Burden of Disease 1990-2019

Despite the tremendous burden of liver cancer and its underlying causes on humankind, there appear to be heterogeneities in coping approaches. The objective of this study was to compare the burden and the quality-of-care of liver cancer by causes among different countries and regions in both sexes and various age groups 1990-2019. Data of liver cancer and underlying causes, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol use, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and other causes were obtained from the Global Burden of Diseases 2019. Incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were assessed. Principal component analysis was used to combine age-standardized mortality-to-incidence ratio, DALY-to-prevalence ratio, prevalence-to-incidence ratio, and years of life lost-to-years lived with disability into a single proxy named Quality of Care Index (QCI). Globally, the age-standardized incidence, DALYs, and death rates decreased from 1990 to 2019, while the QCI scores increased by 68.5%. The QCI score of liver cancer was from as high as 83.3 in high Sociodemographic Index (SDI) countries to values as low as 26.4 in low SDI countries in 2019. Japan had the highest QCI score (QCI = 100). The age-standardized death rates of liver cancer due to all underlying causes were decreasing during the past 30 years, with the most decrease for HBV. Consistently, the global QCI scores of liver cancer due to HBV, HCV, alcohol use, NASH, and other causes reached 53.5, 61.8, 54.3, 52.9, and 63.7, respectively, in 2019. Conclusion: Although the trends in burden are decreasing and the QCI improved from 1990 to 2019 globally, there is a wide gap between countries. Given the inequities in health care quality, there is an urgent need to address discrimination and bridge the gap.

Expansion of the quality of care index on breast cancer and its risk factors using the global burden of disease study 2019

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC), as the top neoplasm in prevalence and mortality in females, imposes a heavy burden on health systems. Evaluation of quality of care and management of patients with BC and its responsible risk factors was the aim of this study.

METHODS

We retrieved epidemiologic data of BC from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 1990-2019 database. Epidemiology and burden of BC and its risk factors were explored besides the Quality of Care Index (QCI) introduced before, to assess the provided care for patients with BC in various scales. Provided care for BC risk factors was investigated by their impact on years of life lost and years lived with disability by a novel risk factor quality index (rQCI). We used the socio-demographic index (SDI) to compare results in different socio-economic levels.

RESULTS

In 2019, 1,977,212 (95% UI: 1,807,615-2,145,215) new cases of BC in females and 25,143 (22,231-27,786) in males was diagnosed and this major cancer caused 688,562 (635,323-739,571) deaths in females and 12,098 (10,693-13,322) deaths in males, globally. The all-age number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years attributed to BC risk factors in females had an increasing pattern, with a more prominent pattern in metabolic risks. The global estimated age-standardized QCI for BC in females in 2019 was 78.7. The estimated QCI was highest in high SDI regions (95.7). The top countries with the highest calculated QCI in 2019 were Iceland (100), Japan (99.8), and Finland (98.8), and the bottom countries were Mozambique (16.0), Somalia (8.2), and Central African Republic (5.3). The global estimated age-standardized rQCI for females was 82.2 in 2019.

CONCLUSION

In spite of the partially restrained burden of BC in recent years, the attributable burden to risk factors has increased remarkably. Countries with higher SDI provided better care regarding both the condition and its responsible risk factors.

Rheumatic Heart Disease Is a Neglected Disease Relative to Its Burden Worldwide: Findings From Global Burden of Disease 2019

Background

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) takes a heavy toll in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We aimed to present worldwide estimates for the burden of the RHD during 1990 to 2019 using the GBD (Global Burden of Disease) study.

Methods and Results

Sociodemographic index (SDI) and age‐period‐cohort analysis were used to assess inequity. The age‐standardized death, disability‐adjusted life years, incidence, and prevalence rates of RHD were 3.9 (95% uncertainty interval, 3.3–4.3), 132.9 (95% uncertainty interval, 115.0–150.3), 37.4 (28.6–46.7), and 513.7 (405.0–636.3) per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The age‐standardized incidence and prevalence rates increased by 14.4% and 13.8%, respectively. However, disability‐adjusted life years and death rates decreased by 53.1% and 56.9%, respectively. South Asia superregion had the highest age‐standardized disability‐adjusted life years and deaths. Sub‐Saharan Africa had the highest age‐standardized incidence and prevalence rates. There was a steep decline in RHD burden among higher‐SDI countries. However, only age‐standardized deaths and disability‐adjusted life years rates decreased in lower‐SDI countries. The age‐standardized years of life lost and years lived with disability rates for RHD significantly declined as countries' SDI increased. The coefficients of birth cohort effect on the incidence of RHD showed an increasing trend from 1960 to 1964 to 2015 to 2019; however, the birth cohort effect on deaths attributable to RHD showed unfailingly decreasing trends from 1910 to 1914 to 2015 to 2019.

Conclusions

There was a divergence in the burden of RHD among countries based on SDI levels, which calls for including RHD in global assistance and funding. Indeed, many countries are still dealing with an unfinished infectious disease agenda, and there is an urgency to act now to prevent an increase in future RHD burden.

Clinical application of a 5G-based telerobotic ultrasound system for thyroid examination on a rural island: a prospective study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility of a 5G-based telerobotic ultrasound (US) system for thyroid examination on a rural island.

METHODS

From September 2020 to March 2021, this prospectively study enrolled a total of 139 patients (average age, 58.6 ± 12.7 years) included 33 males and 106 females, who underwent 5G-based telerobotic thyroid US examination by a tele-doctor at Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital and a conventional thyroid US examination at Chongming Second People's Hospital 84 km away. The clinical feasibility of 5G-based telerobotic US for thyroid examination were evaluated in terms of safety, duration, US image quality, diagnostic results, and questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

92.8% of patients had no examination-related complaints. The average duration of the 5G-based telerobotic US examination was similar as that of conventional US examination (5.57 ± 2.20 min vs. 5.23 ± 2.1 min, P = 0.164). The image quality of telerobotic US correlated well with that of conventional US (4.63 ± 0.60 vs. 4.65 ± 0.61, P = 0.102). There was no significant difference between two types of US examination methods for the diameter measurement of the thyroid, cervical lymph nodes, and thyroid nodules. Two lymphadenopathies and 20 diffuse thyroid diseases were detected in two types of US methods. 124 thyroid nodules were detected by telerobotic US and 127 thyroid nodules were detected by conventional US. Among them, 122 were the same thyroid nodules. In addition, there were good consistency in the US features (component, echogenicity, shape, and calcification) and ACR TI-RADS category of the same thyroid nodules between telerobotic and conventional US examinations (ICC = 0.788-0.863). 85.6% of patients accepted the telerobotic US, and 87.1% were willing to pay extra fee for the telerobotic US.

CONCLUSION

The 5G-based telerobotic US system can be a routine diagnostic tool for thyroid examination for patients on a rural island.

The global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index (QCI) of colorectal cancer; a global burden of disease systematic analysis 1990-2019

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the five most incident and lethal cancers in world and its burden varies between countries and sexes. We aimed to present a comprehensive measure called the quality of care index (QCI) to evaluate the inequity and healthcare quality of care regarding CRC by sex and location.

Methods

Data on the burden of CRC were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. It was transformed to four ratios, including mortality-to-incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)-to-prevalence, prevalence-to-incidence, and years of life lost (YLLs)-to-years lived with disability (YLDs). Principal component analysis was implemented on the four ratios and the most influential component was considered as QCI with a score ranging from zero to 100, for which higher scores represented better quality of care. Gender Disparity Ratio (GDR) was calculated by dividing QCI for females by males.

Results

The global incidence and death numbers of CRC were 2,166,168 (95% uncertainty interval: 1,996,298–2,342,842) and 1,085,797 (1,002,795–1,149,679) in 2019, respectively. Globally, QCI and GDR values were 77.6 and 1.0 respectively in 2019. There was a positive association between the level of quality of care and socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles. Region of the Americas and African Region had the highest and lowest QCI values, respectively (84.4 vs. 23.6). The QCI values started decreasing beyond the age of 75 in 2019 worldwide.

Conclusion

There is heterogeneity in QCI between SDI quintiles. More attention should be paid to people aged more than 75 years old because of the lower quality of care in this group.

Emerging role of competing endogenous RNA and associated noncoding RNAs in thyroid cancer

Cancer of the thyroid is the most common endocrine malignancy. While treatment options are limited for individuals with medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer, understanding the underlying mechanisms is vital to developing a successful thyroid cancer treatment strategy due to the tumor's multistep carcinogenesis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been associated with thyroid cancer progression in several recent studies; however, the role of regulatory interactions among different types of ncRNAs in thyroid cancer remains unclear. Recently, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) has been discovered as a mechanism demonstrating regulatory interactions among non-coding RNAs, including pseudogenes, long non-coding RNAs (lnRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs). It has been concluded from the literature that numerous ceRNA networks are deregulated during the development, invasion, and metastasis of thyroid cancer, as well as in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and drug resistance. Further understanding of these deregulations is important to develop diagnostic procedures for early detection of thyroid cancer and promising therapeutic options for effective treatment. The purpose of this review is to highlight the emerging roles of some newly found ceRNA members in thyroid cancer and outline the current body of knowledge regarding ceRNA, lncRNA, pseudogenes, and miRNAs.

Global, regional, and national quality of care of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 1990-2017

BACKGROUND

To improve health outcomes to their maximum level, defining indices to measure healthcare quality and accessibility is crucial. In this study, we implemented the novel Quality of Care Index (QCI) to estimate the quality and accessibility of care for patients with gallbladder and biliary tract cancer (GBBTC) in 195 countries, 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles, and sex groups.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study extracted estimates on GBBTC burden from the GBD 2017, which presents population-based estimates on GBBTC burden for higher than 15-year-old patients from 1990 to 2017. Four secondary indices indicating quality of care were chosen, comprising Mortality to incidence, Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) to prevalence, prevalence to incidence, and years of life lost (YLL) to years lived with disability (YLD) ratios. Then, the whole dataset was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis to combine the four indices and create a single all-inclusive measure named QCI. The QCI was scaled to the 0-100 range, with 100 indicating the best quality of care among countries. Gender Disparity Ratio (GDR) was defined as the female to male QCI ratio to show gender inequity throughout the regions and countries.

RESULTS

Global QCI score for GBBTC was 33.5 in 2017, which has increased by 29% since 1990. There was a considerable gender disparity in favor of men (GDR = 0.74) in 2017, showing QCI has moved toward gender inequity since 1990 (GDR = 0.85). Quality of care followed a heterogeneous pattern among regions and countries and was positively correlated with the countries' developmental status reflected in SDI (r = 0.7; CI 95%: 0.61-0.76; P value< 0.001). Accordingly, High-income North America (QCI = 72.4) had the highest QCI; whereas, Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (QCI = 3) had the lowest QCI among regions. Patients aged 45 to 80 had lower QCI scores than younger and older adults. The highest QCI score was for the older than 95 age group (QCI = 54), and the lowest was for the 50-54 age group (QCI = 26.0).

CONCLUSIONS

QCI improved considerably from 1990 to 2017; however, it showed heterogeneous distribution and inequity between sex and age groups. In each regional context, plans from countries with the highest QCI and best gender equity should be disseminated and implemented in order to decrease the overall burden of GBBTC.

Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index of endocarditis: the global burden of disease study 1990-2019

AIMS

Endocarditis accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnosis and prompt treatment are of paramount importance for optimal patient outcome. However, only few studies have assessed quality of care (QoC) in endocarditis. We aimed to describe QoC and changes in epidemiological features of endocarditis from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using primary indices of mortality, incidence, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life year, obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, we calculated four secondary measures. Principal component analysis was performed to calculate QoC index (QCI), scored on a scale of 0-100 with higher values indicating better QoC, for different locations, age groups, and genders from 1990 to 2019. The all-ages incidence rate of endocarditis was estimated to increase significantly from 1990 to 2019, while mortality rate did not change. The age-standardized QCI was 73.6% globally, with higher values in high-income countries than in low-income countries. High-income North America (82.0%) and Asia Pacific (81.1%) had the highest QCI, whereas Eastern Europe (43.3%) had the lowest. Globally, the 30-49 and 95+ age groups had the highest (91.3%) and the lowest (71.7%) QCI, respectively. In most countries, particularly those with lower socio-demographic index, women had better QCI.

CONCLUSION

This is the first global assessment of QCI, shedding light on the current trends and highlighting the necessity of improving the endocarditis QoC, mainly by timely case detection, adherence to antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines, utilizing targeted antibiotics and advanced treatments, in the African region and resolving gender inequality in selected countries.

Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index (QCI) of lip and oral cavity cancer: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017

BACKGROUND

To measure the quality of care for lip and oral cavity cancer worldwide using the data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2017.

METHODS

After devising four main indices of quality of care for lip and oral cavity cancer using GBD 2017 study's measures, including prevalence, incidence, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years, we utilised principal component analysis (PCA) to determine a component that bears the most proportion of info among the others. This component of the PCA was considered as the Quality-of-Care Index (QCI) for lip and oral cavity cancer. The QCI score was then reported in both men and women worldwide and different countries based on the socio-demographic index (SDI) and World Bank classifications.

RESULTS

Between 1990 and 2017, care quality continuously increased globally (from 53.7 to 59.6). In 1990, QCI was higher for men (53.5 for men compared with 50.8 for women), and in 2017 QCI increased for both men and women, albeit a slightly higher rise for women (57.2 for men compared with 59.9 for women). During the same period, age-standardised QCI for lip and oral cavity cancer increased in all regions (classified by SDI and World Bank). Globally, the highest QCI scores were observed in the elderly age group, whereas the least were in the adult age group. Five countries with the least amount of QCIs were all African. In contrast, North American countries, West European countries and Australia had the highest indices.

CONCLUSION

The quality of care for lip and oral cavity cancer showed a rise from 1990 to 2017, a promising outcome that supports patient-oriented and preventive treatment policies previously advised in the literature. However, not all countries enjoyed such an increase in the QCI to the same extent. This alarming finding could imply a necessary need for better access to high-quality treatments for lip and oral cavity cancer, especially in central African countries and Afghanistan. More policies with a preventive approach and paying more heed to the early diagnosis, broad insurance coverage, and effective screening programs are recommended worldwide. More focus should also be given to the adulthood age group as they had the least QCI scores globally.

The relationship between autophagy-related genes and the staging and prognosis of thyroid cancer: a bioinformatics analysis

Background

The number of patients with thyroid cancer is increasing. Autophagy is closely related to thyroid cancer. This study conducted a bioinformatics analysis to examine the relationship between autophagy-related genes and the prognosis of thyroid cancer.

Methods

Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the standardized ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing data and corresponding clinical records of 497 patients were obtained. The gene set of autophagy-related genes was obtained from reactom [https://reactome.org/; gene set identification: (R-HSA-1632852)]. Based on the completeness of the sequencing and prognostic data, 135 effective genes were screened to form a gene set. A cluster analysis of the genetic expression of the whole genome was conducted. Different groups and subgroups were defined according to the clustering situation. The relationship between the expression levels of different autophagy-related genes and the clinical characteristics of thyroid cancer were analyzed.

Results

Patients were divided into 2 clusters and 4 subclusters. A comparison of the clinical parameters of the 2 clusters showed that there were differences in node (N)-stage, and a comparison of the 4 subclusters showed that there were differences in age and 4 other characteristics. In relation to the survival comparison, there was a difference in the disease-free survival (DFS) between the 2 clusters, and there was a difference in overall survival (OS) and DFS between subclusters. The 2 clusters had 114 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the 4 subclusters had 131 DEGs. In relation to the 5 different factors in each group, there were differences in the distribution of N0N1NX in clusters and subclusters, there were differences in the distribution of M0M1MX in subclusters, and there were differences in the distribution of age and the American Joint Committee on Cancer stage in subclusters. In relation to the stage/N stage/Metastasis (M) stage-related DEGs, 5 common genes were identified: EPAS1, ATG4A, BECN1, ATG4C, and PLIN3. In relation to the stage/N stage/M stage-related DEGs and age-related DEGs 1 common gene was identified: EPAS1.

Conclusions

Autophagy-related genes are related to the staging of thyroid cancer, but have no clear relationship with long-term prognosis.

Global burden of thyroid cancer and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019

Background

To investigate the burden of thyroid cancer and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories during 30 years.

Methods

We extracted data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database, including incidence, mortality, disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs), and the attributable risk factors of thyroid cancer from 1990 to 2019. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were calculated to assess the changes in age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age‐standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age‐standardized DALYs rate (ASDR). We also examined the associations between cancer burden and the sociodemographic index (SDI).

Results

The global new cases, death, and DALYs of thyroid cancer in 2019 were 233 847 (95% UI: 211 637–252 807), 45 576 (95% UI: 41 290‐48 775), and 1 231 841 (95% UI: 1 113 585–1 327 064), respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the ASIR of thyroid cancer showed an upward trend (EAPC = 1.25), but ASMR (EAPC = −0.15) and ASDR (EAPC = −0.14) decreased. The burden of thyroid cancer varied at regional and national levels, but the association between ASIR and SDI was positive. We found that the burden of thyroid cancer was mainly concentrated in females and that the age of onset tended to be younger. The proportion of DALYs from thyroid cancer attributable to high body‐mass index was higher in high SDI regions, especially in males.

Conclusions

The global incidence of thyroid cancer has continued to increase in the past three decades. The high body‐mass index as an important risk factor for thyroid cancer deserves greater attention, especially in high SDI regions.

Translational Utility of Liquid Biopsies in Thyroid Cancer Management

Liquid biopsies are a novel technique to assess for either circulating tumor cells (CTC) or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA and microRNA (miRNA)) in peripheral blood samples of cancer patients. The diagnostic role of liquid biopsy in oncology has expanded in recent years, particularly in lung, colorectal and breast cancer. In thyroid cancer, the role of liquid biopsy in either diagnosis or prognosis is beginning to translate from the lab to the clinic. In this review, we describe the evolution of liquid biopsies in detecting CTC, ctDNA and miRNA in thyroid cancer patients, together with its limitations and future directions in clinical practice.

Secular Trends in the Epidemiologic Patterns of Thyroid Cancer in China Over Three Decades: An Updated Systematic Analysis of Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 Data

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant endocrine disease worldwide. The changing epidemiologic pattern of thyroid cancer at the national level in China has remained unknown over the last three decades.

METHODS

Following the general analytical strategy used in the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019, the age- and sex-specific incidence, mortality, and prevalence rates of thyroid cancer in China were analyzed. Trends in the incidence, mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to thyroid cancer from 1990 to 2019 were assessed by joinpoint regression analysis. Age, period, and cohort effects on incidence were estimated by an age-period-cohort model.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates significantly increased in both males and females, and the age-standardized mortality rate decreased in females but increased in males. Moreover, the increments in all the age-standardized measures of thyroid cancer in China were higher in males than in females. The age effect showed that those aged 40-44 years had the highest relative risk (RR) among females, and the RR increased with age among males. The incidence increased with time and began to substantially increase in 2009. The cohort effect showed that the incidence decreased in successive birth cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of thyroid cancer in China showed unexpected patterns that varied by sex, age, and year. Notably, males had higher average annual percentage changes in thyroid cancer incidence and mortality rates than females. More attention should be given to improving the thyroid cancer burden in males in China.