Cancer Burden in Chinese Older Adults: Insights Into Incidence, Mortality, and Global Comparisons Using GLOBOCAN 2022

Objective

To summarize the latest cancer burden among Chinese adults aged 60 years and older and compare it with the global average and four regions classified by Human Development Index (HDI).

Methods

Cancer incidence and mortality data were extracted from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database. The estimated numbers of new cases and deaths, age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were analyzed for the top ten cancer types in Chinese older adults, categorized by sex and age groups (60–69, 70–84, and 85+ years). Descriptive analyses were conducted to compare ASIRs and ASMRs for all cancer sites combined and major cancer types among adults aged 60 and older across China, the global average, and four HDI-classified regions.

Results

In 2022, there were an estimated 2884.2 thousand new cancer cases and 1963.9 thousand cancer deaths among Chinese adults aged 60 and older. The ASIR (1211.8 per 100,000) and ASMR (857.2 per 100,000) for all cancers combined were 1.6 and 2.0 times higher in males than in females, respectively. Nearly half of new cancer cases and deaths occurred in the 70–84 age group, accounting for 48.4% of all cases (1395.9 thousand) and 53.3% of all deaths (1046.4 thousand). Lung, colorectal, stomach, liver, esophageal, prostate, and female breast cancers were the most prevalent cancer types. Compared with the global average and four HDI-classified regions, Chinese older adults had higher ASIRs and ASMRs for lung, stomach, liver, and esophageal cancers but lower rates for prostate and female breast cancers. The ASIR and ASMR for prostate cancer were comparable to those in countries with medium HDI. For female breast cancer, the ASIR was similar to that in countries with low and medium HDI, with a lower ASMR. For colorectal cancer, the ASIR and ASMR were close to the global average but lower than those in countries with very high HDI.

Conclusion

Chinese adults aged 60 and older face a heavy burden of lung and digestive cancers, with incidence and mortality patterns reflecting characteristics of both developed and developing regions. Given the rapid population aging and limited healthcare resources, tailored, evidence-based strategies are urgently needed to improve cancer prevention and control in China.