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 inci-dence, 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.

Automated summary

This study aims to provide estimates of prevalence and incidence of central nervous system (CNS) cancers and their contributors in North Africa and the Middle East from 1990 to 2019. The results show that the burden of CNS cancers is increasing in the region with significant heterogeneity among countries. Improved early detection and healthcare access are needed to address the rising burden of CNS malignancies and bridge the inequalities.