Objective: To analyze the disease burden of thyroid cancer in the Chinese population, in 1990 and 2013.
Methods: Data on China from the Global Burden of Disease 2013 (GBD2013) was used to analyze the related parameters as mortality, prevalence,years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of thyroid cancer in China in 1990 and 2013 among all the Chinese population.
Results: There were 33 939 thyroid cancer patients identified in 2013 (7 146 men and 26 793 women), with an increase of 21 898 patients than the number in 1990. The incidence rate of thyroid cancer increased by 181.86%. The incidence rates of thyroid cancer showed an increase in females but a decrease in males. In 2013, 4 974 people (2 292 men and 2 682 women) died of thyroid cancer, with an increase of 1 810 patients, compared with the figures in 1990. The mortality rate of thyroid cancer in 2013 decreased by 14.29%, compared with the figures in 1990. The mortality rate of thyroid cancer decreased in females while the incidence rate in males showed an increase. The incidence rates increased with age in females, reaching a peak at the 50-54 years old group. The mortality rate of thyroid cancer increased with age. The DALY, YLL and YLD due to thyroid cancer appeared as 13.35, 11.42 and 1.93 ten thousand person years, respectively, in 2013. Between 1990 to 2013, the age-standardized rates on DALY, YLL and YLD decreased from 10.33/100 000 to 8.84/100 000, from 9.60/100 000 to 7.61/100 000 and increased from 0.72/100 000 to 1.23/100 000, respectively. In 2013 the top three incidence rates were recorded in Qinghai, Xinjiang and Fujian provinces while the lowest was in Tibet. Compared with those in 1990, the incidence rates increased in all the provinces except for Tianjin. The top three high mortality rates were recorded in Qinghai, Hong Kong and Fujian and the lowest was also in Tibet. The mortality rates increased in five provinces.
Conclusions: Compared with those in 1990, the incidence of thyroid cancer increased, but the mortality decreased in 2013. Although significant decrease of DALY due to thyroid cancer was seen in 2013, the YLD burden was still increasing.