Abu Dhabi, UAE – The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have witnessed a significant surge in the number of early-onset cancer cases from 1990 to 2019, a latest study has pointed out.
According to the study published in BMJ Oncology 2023, the UAE recorded a staggering increase of 1127.6 percent, followed closely by Qatar with 1089.5 percent and Saudi Arabia with 896 percent.
These figures are in stark contrast to countries like Lithuania, Georgia, and Latvia, which saw a decrease in incident cases by 30.9 percent, 30 percent, and 29 percent, respectively, suggested the research that provides a comprehensive analysis of the global burden of early-onset cancers, with a particular focus on the Gulf region.
The UAE also observed the most pronounced change in the number of death and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) cases, with an increase of 850.6 percent and 803.7 percent respectively. The data underscores the growing concern of early-onset cancers in the Gulf region and the urgent need for preventive measures and enhanced healthcare infrastructure.
The study also provided insights into the Age-Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR) and Age-Standardized Death Rate (ASDR) of early-onset cancer in various countries.
In 2019, the United States had the highest ASIR at 282.1 per 100,000, while the Solomon Islands recorded the highest ASDR at 82.9 per 100,000. On the other end of the spectrum, Niger had the lowest ASIR at 31.0 per 100,000, and Kuwait had the lowest ASDR at 9.5 per 100,000.