International variation in childhood cancer mortality rates from 2001-2015: comparison of trends in the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership countries
Authors
Smith, L.Stiller, C. A.
Aitken, J. F.
Hjalgrim, L. L.
Johannesen, T.
Lahteenmaki, P.
McCabe, Martin G
Phillips, R.
Pritchard-Jones, K.
Steliarova-Foucher, E.
Winther, J. F.
Woods, R. R.
Glaser, A. W.
Feltbower, R. G.
Affiliation
Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKIssue Date
2021
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Despite improved survival rates, cancer remains one of the most common causes of childhood death. The International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) showed variation in cancer survival for adults. We aimed to assess and compare trends over time in cancer mortality between children, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and adults in the six countries involved in the ICBP: UK, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Norway and Sweden. Trends in mortality between 2001 and 2015 in the six original ICBP countries were examined. Age standardized mortality rates (ASR per million) were calculated for all cancers, leukaemia, malignant and benign CNS tumours, and non-CNS solid tumours. ASRs were reported for children (age 0-14 years), AYAs aged 15-39 years, and adults aged 40 years and above. Average annual percentage change (AAPC) in mortality rates per country were estimated using Joinpoint regression. For all cancers combined, significant temporal reductions were observed in all countries and all age groups. However, the overall AAPC was greater for children (-2.9; 95% CI -4.0 to -1.7) compared to AYAs (-1.8; -2.1 to -1.5) and adults aged>40 years (-1.5; -1.6 to -1.4). This pattern was mirrored for leukaemia, CNS tumours and non-CNS solid tumours, with the difference being most pronounced for leukaemia: AAPC for children -4.6 (-6.1 to -3.1) vs AYAs -3.2 (-4.2 to -2.1) and over 40s -1.1 (-1.3 to -0.8). AAPCs varied between countries in children for all cancers except leukaemia, and in adults over 40 for all cancers combined, but not in subgroups. Improvements in cancer mortality rates in ICBP countries have been most marked among children aged 0-14s in comparison to 15-39 and over 40 year olds. This may reflect better care, including centralised service provision, treatment protocols and higher trial recruitment rates in children compared to older patients.Citation
Smith L, Stiller CA, Aitken JF, Hjalgrim LL, Johannesen T, Lahteenmaki P, et al. International variation in childhood cancer mortality rates from 2001‐2015: comparison of trends in the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership countries. Int J Cancer. 2021 Aug 27.Journal
International Journal of CancerDOI
10.1002/ijc.33774PubMed ID
34449879Additional Links
https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijc.33774Type
ArticleLanguage
enae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1002/ijc.33774