Trends in the incidence of head and neck cancer: A nationwide population-based study

Tzong-Hann Yang; Sudha Xirasagar; Yen-Fu Cheng; Chin-Shyan Chen; Wei-Pin Chang; Herng-Ching Lin

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106391

Trends in the incidence of head and neck cancer: A nationwide population-based study

Oral Oncol. 2023 May:140:106391. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106391. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Authors

Tzong-Hann Yang¹, Sudha Xirasagar², Yen-Fu Cheng³, Chin-Shyan Chen⁴, Wei-Pin Chang⁵, Herng-Ching Lin⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Speech, Language and Audiology, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health, Taiwan; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, National Yang-Ming University, School of Medicine, Taiwan; Center of General Education, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
³ Research Center of Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Research Center of Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Economics, National Taipei University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
⁵ School of Health Care Administration, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ School of Health Care Administration, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Sleep Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: henry11111@tmu.edu.tw.

PMID: 37030023
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106391

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the temporal trend in incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) in Taiwan.

Materials and methods: Patients with a HNC were retrieved from the Taiwan's Health Insurance Database. We identified 16,894 patients aged ≥20 years who had received a first-time diagnosis of cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, sinonasal, salivary gland or thyroid gland between 2010 and 2018. We calculated the annual incidence rate per 100,000 population, overall, and classified by gender and cancer type. We also used the annual percent change (APC) to characterize trends in head and neck cancer rates over time.

Results: The incidence rate showed a gradual decline during this period from 2010 to 2018 with an APC of -2.81% (p < 0.001). Within gender groups, the decline was not statistically significant among females (APC = -1.69, 95% CI = -3.58 ∼ 0.23, p = 0.080). Within cancer types, strikingly high magnitude and statistically significant declines were observed in respect of cancer of the nasopharynx (APC = -7.89%, 95% CI = -9.43%∼-6.31%, p < 0.001), sinonasal cancer (APC = -10.08%, 95% CI = -16.66%∼-2.99%, p = 0.012) and oropharyneal cancer (APC = -9.47%, 95% CI = -15.15%∼-3.42%, p = 0.013) over the study period. In contrast, there was a statistically significant increase in incidence on thyroid cancer over the study period with an APC of 4.75% (95% CI = -2.81%∼6.75%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: HNCs in Taiwan are showing a decreasing trend, led by the upper respiratory and oropharyngeal cancers. However, there was a concurrent increasing trend of the incidence on thyroid cancer. These trends may be attributable to changing lifestyles and behavioral choices in Taiwan.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Head and neck cancer; Incidence; Oropharyneal cancer; Sinonasal cancer.

MeSH terms

Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Humans
Incidence
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms*
Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms*
Thyroid Neoplasms*