Global Burden and Temporal Trends of Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.
This GBD 2021 analysis estimates global incidence, mortality, and DALY trends for brain and CNS tumors in people under 20 years from 1990–2021, reports declining mortality but substantial SDI-related disparities, and projects burden through 2036.
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This GBD 2021 analysis estimates global incidence, mortality, and DALY trends for brain and CNS tumors in people under 20 years from 1990–2021, reports declining mortality but substantial SDI-related disparities, and projects burden through 2036.
Research significance
The record provides no evidence for a specific therapy; it supports only the inference that improving healthcare access and directing resources toward lower-SDI regions could potentially reduce pediatric CNS tumor mortality and disability.
Source abstract
BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors pose major global health challenges. Previous studies often assessed all-age populations without focusing on children and adolescents. We analyzed the burden and temporal trends of CNS tumors among individuals aged < 20 years from 1990 to 2021, with projections to 2036. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, including annual incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for brain and CNS tumors. Regions were classified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) to examine associations between burden and development. Temporal trends were analyzed using the age-period-cohort (APC) model and future projections via the Bayesian APC model. RESULTS: In 2021, an estimated 40,534.53 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 33,345.94-49,609.04) new cases of brain and CNS tumors occurred worldwide. The global age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was 1.54 (95% UI: 1.27-1.88), and the death rate (ASDR) was 0.76 (0.61-0.93) per 100,000. High-SDI regions showed the highest ASIR and ASDR, while lower-SDI regions faced growing burdens. Mortality and DALYs improved most in Greenland, Serbia, and China. The APC model showed a mild global decline in incidence (p = 0.099) and significant mortality reduction (-1.16% annually, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Global CNS tumor burden declined but remains uneven. Enhanced prevention and healthcare access are needed, especially in low-SDI regions.