Abstract

Background: Tobacco-related esophageal cancer (TREC) is a significant public health concern, with rising incidence and mortality rates globally. Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of TREC is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.

Methods: This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 to analyze the epidemiological features of TREC, focusing on mortality rates, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and other relevant indicators across different regions, and genders. Decomposition analysis was performed to identify the main factors influencing changes in TREC burden, including population growth, aging, and epidemiological changes.

Results: From 1990 to 2021, global deaths due to TREC increased from 143,332.8 to 219,185.3, while the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) decreased from 3.6 to 2.5 per 100,000 persons. The rise in TREC burden was primarily attributed to population growth (154.62%) and aging (39.75%). DALYs associated with TREC rose from 3,844,095.6 to 5,136,277, with a notable decline in age-standardized DALYs rate (AS DALYs R) from 93.3 to 58.5 per 100,000 persons. Significant regional and gender disparities were observed, with males experiencing a higher burden.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to address the rising burden of TREC, particularly in regions with high smoking rates. While population growth and aging are key contributors, improvements in public health policies have the potential to mitigate TREC burden in certain areas. Further research is necessary to explore additional factors influencing TREC epidemiology.