Cancer Burden Among Adolescents and Young Adults in China Showing Increasing Trends

Strategic Insights -

Research has revealed alarming trends in cancer rates among adolescents and young adults in China, with a comprehensive assessment of the cancer burden highlighting significant health and societal burdens. The study, conducted by researchers at Peking University, focused on trends in cancer incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years among Chinese adolescents and young adults from 1990 to 2021. The findings indicate a rise in cancer incidence among this age group, with breast cancer being the leading contributor to incidence burden.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cancer incidence among adolescents and young adults in China increased from 36.74 to 51.51 per 100,000 population from 1990 to 2021.
  • Mortality rates decreased, with age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) declining from 22.53 to 14.89 per 100,000 population over the same period.
  • The disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate per 100,000 population decreased from 1,331.48 to 689.68 from 1990 to 2021.
  • Breast cancer emerged as the leading contributor to incidence burden (ASIR: 6.03), while tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancers, along with leukemia, accounted for the highest mortality (ASMR: 1.73) and DALYs (ASDR: 98.73) burden among adolescents and young adults.
  • Tobacco use and dietary risks were the largest contributors to the overall cancer burden, while unsafe sex remained the principal risk factor for cervical cancer.
  • The study highlights the need for future prevention efforts to target both traditional risk factors and emerging lifestyle threats, with a focus on cancer prevention and screening for adolescents and young adults at high risk.

Statistics:

  • Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR): 36.74 (1990-2021) to 51.51 per 100,000 population.
  • Age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR): 22.53 (1990) to 14.89 per 100,000 population.
  • Disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate: 1,331.48 (1990) to 689.68 per 100,000 population.

Sources:

  • Trends in cancer burden for adolescents and young adults in China from 1990 to 2021. BMC Cancer, 2025;25(1):1554.
  • Additional authors: Xing Xing, Wenyu Yang, Zhiyong Qu, and He Zhu.