Burden of Breast Cancer Disease Among Older Adults in Asian Countries From 1990 to 2021.

Purpose: This study used the latest data of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 to comprehensively analyze the burden of breast cancer among older adults (age >65 years) in Asian countries.

Methods: Our focus was on breast cancer metrics in Asia, specifically incidence, prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) using GBD 2021. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were used to quantify the trends of age-standardized rates (ASRs). The decomposition method was explored to examine breast cancer deaths and DALYs as the result of four determinant factors. Nordpred was used to forecast burden trends up to 2044.

Results: There were 262,063.05 new cases, 2,742,285.75 prevalence, 115,973.98 deaths, and 2,260,975.34 DALYs of breast cancer among older adults in 2021 in Asia. From 1990 to 2021, the ASRs of breast cancer among older adults were on the rise. Males (EAPC, 4.14; 95% CI, 3.8 to 4.48) had a greater upward trend in age-standardized incident rate than females (EAPC, 2.09; 95% CI, 2.03 to 2.15). The regions and countries with the most significant ASR growth trends of all metrics were high-income Asia-Pacific and Türkiye, respectively. Decomposition analysis of the deaths and DALYs showed population growth was the primary contributing factor. By 2044, the estimated number of breast cancer cases among older adults will continue to increase in Asian countries.

Conclusion: Breast cancer among older adults causes a high disease burden in Asia, especially in high-income Asia-Pacific. There is an urgent need for regional cooperation to take effective targeted measures to jointly prevent and control the spread of breast cancer among older adults, especially for male breast cancer.