The burden of breast cancer among women of reproductive age is increasing significantly, necessitating urgent public health responses.
A recent study leveraging global disease data has revealed alarming trends in breast cancer incidence among women ages 15 to 49. Between 1990 and 2021, the number of new breast cancer cases in this demographic surged by 118.7%, while prevalence increased by 121.3%. The Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost also saw a striking rise of 66.8% during the same period.
The analysis, conducted as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2021), highlights pronounced regional disparities. The most significant increases were documented in regions categorized as low and low-middle Socio-Demographic Index (SDI).
The average annual percentage change in age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) climbed from 22.60 per 100,000 in 1990 to 27.51 per 100,000 in 2021. Similarly, age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) grew from 191.47 per 100,000 to 235.29 per 100,000 within the same window.
Despite advancements in medical diagnosis and treatment contributing to a decline in age-standardized rates of DALYs and mortality—down from 347.91 to 327.24 per 100,000 and from 6.90 to 6.34 per 100,000, respectively—overall the burden of breast cancer is projected to escalate.
Looking ahead, forecasts using the Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) model suggest that by 2040, new breast cancer cases among women of reproductive age are expected to increase by 47.8% compared to 2022 levels.
Notably, population growth and aging emerged as the main drivers behind this rising burden, with decomposition analyses indicating a 73.7% increase in DALYs attributable to changes in population size. These findings underlie the pressing need for targeted public health interventions that can mitigate the rising trend of breast cancer cases.
Health inequalities have also risen significantly; the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) for DALY rates revealed an increase from 635 in 1990 to 723 in 2021, signaling a worsening disparity in health outcomes across economic strata.
As public health authorities seek to tackle this growing challenge, it is evident that addressing both epidemiological factors and disparities in healthcare access will be vital. The complex interplay of socioeconomic factors highlights the urgency for global collaboration to enhance access to preventive care and treatment for breast cancer.
The current upward trajectory of breast cancer incidence and prevalence among women of reproductive age emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive and inclusive health strategies that cater to this vulnerable population.
