International patterns and trends in the brain cancer incidence and mortality: An observational study based on the global burden of disease

BACKGROUND: Brain cancer is a serious issue in the global burden of diseases. This observational research aimed to assess trends of the brain cancer incidence and mortality in the world in the period 1990–2019. METHODS: Brain cancer incidence and mortality data were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study database. The joinpoint regression analysis was done to assess the brain cancer indicence and mortality trends: the average annual percent change (AAPC) along with its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated. RESULTS: In both sexes, the highest age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality were found in high-income regions (Europe and America), while the lowest were observed in the African Region. A significant rise in brain cancer incidence rates both in males and females was observed in all regions, with one exception of a significantly decreased trend only among males in the South-East Asia Region. Among countries with increased trends in incidence and mortality from brain cancer, Cuba experienced the most marked increase in both incidence (AAPC = +5.7% in males and AAPC = +5.4% in females) and mortality rates (AAPC = +5.5% in males and AAPC = +5.1% in females). Among countries that experienced a decline in brain cancer incidence and mortality, Hungary and Greenland showed the most marked decline in both sexes (equally by −1.0%). CONCLUSION: Brain cancer shows increasing global incidence rates in both sexes and represents a priority for prevention and further research.