In this study, we have provided a comprehensive report on the burden of esophageal cancer, based on the WHO areas. The reports indicated that the trend of the esophageal cancer burden has increased by 2005. Then, it has diminished. In addition, the pattern for the esophageal cancer burden, based on geographical distribution, has been investigated.
About 439025 deaths and 9854406 DALYs of esophageal cancer happened in 2015. The global incidence and prevalence rates were 6.54 and 10.12 per 100.000, respectively. In 2015, according to the WHO regions, the Western Pacific area with more than 50% of the number of deaths (225672) and DALYs (4773660), compared to other regions, ranked first in the esophageal cancer burden. The Mediterranean region with a death number of 17741 and DALY of 516412 was indicated as the last rank.
Moreover, in 2015, the results showed that the incidence and prevalence rates of the esophageal cancer in the Western Pacific region were 13.85 and 22.21 per 100.000 people, respectively, almost twice the global average. In this area, Japan and China led to the highest incidence, prevalence and number of death. In Japan, incidence and prevalence rates are reported 22.29 and 54.62, respectively.
Mainly, China and Japan have caused the increased burden of esophageal cancer in the Pacific region. Esophageal cancer has always been a serious issue in these countries. In 2008, a study showed that esophageal cancer has led to 11746 and 211084 deaths in Japan and China, respectively (
22).
The current study clearly demonstrated that the DALYs related to esophageal cancer in men (7331669) are higher than in women (2522737). However, there are two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) that their DALYs are higher among women. A study in Brazil estimated that the total DALYs of esophageal cancer was 3235 for men, and it was 918 for women (
23). Another study in China reported that, per 100.000 people, the incidence rate of esophageal cancer was 10.39 in men, and it was 7.44 in women (
24). In addition, a study showed that the incident cases of the esophageal cancer for men and women were 483000 and 352000, respectively (
8). There is also a study indicating that the DALY rate of esophageal cancer for women is higher, in comparison with those in men (
25).
In this study, the greatest cancer burden of the esophagus is related to the age group of 50 - 69 years, in all the WHO regions and countries. In some countries, however, the burden of esophageal cancer, in the age group of 15 to 49 years, is higher than the age group of < 70 years. For example, in the region of the Africa, the DALY number was 176148 and 120557 for the age groups of 15 - 49 and < 70 years, respectively. This finding suggests that the risk factors of esophageal cancer are different in the world. It is very important to consider that the burden of esophageal cancer varies depending on lifestyle, the factor of genetics and environmental effect (
26,
27).
Our research, like the results of previous studies, displays that the YLLs are a major part of DALYs calculation for esophageal carcinoma burden. It is presented that esophageal carcinoma has a high mortality. In China, the research found that more than 90% of the DALY for esophageal carcinoma were due to premature death (
28). Jayatilleke et al. have reported that YLL contributed to the majority of the DALY rate (90%) for esophageal carcinoma, in all ages (
29). Another study, in 2010, estimating the burden of diseases between Mexican people, reported that YLL and YLD were 6032 and 690, for esophageal cancer, respectively (
12).
For more careful study on the burden of esophageal cancer, we assessed the DALY, in 2000 to 2015. Globally, DALYs were 1023116 in 2000, gained the peak of 10665358 in 2005. Then, decreased by 2015. Regionally, the Western Pacific area always has the highest DALY, in all the years, where DALYs were 5968131 and 4773660, in 2000 and 2015, respectively. The lowest DALYs happened in the Mediterranean area during these years. Internationally, in 2015, the top 5 countries which had the highest esophageal cancer DALYs were China, India, United States, Pakistan and Brazil. The following points should be noted when one wants to review the esophageal cancer burden in the 5 top countries and WHO areas. Firstly, although the Western Pacific area always had the highest DALYs related to esophageal cancer, the trend of DALY has been decreasing in this area. In addition, China is located in the Western Pacific area, and it has more than half of the global DALYs.
Secondly, China had the highest DALYs during 2000 to 2015 whereas the trend of esophageal cancer DALYs has been decreasing. On the other hand, it has been increasing in other countries.
These findings further support the idea of which countries of Asia are also located on the esophageal cancer belt. This area expands from Northern China through Southern Russia, Northern Afghanistan and North-Eastern Iran to Eastern Turkey (
30). All the countries located at the esophageal cancer belt, except Turkey, have a high burden of the esophageal cancer in our study.
Interpretation of the results based on the geographical area shows a series of homogeneous and heterogeneous patterns associated with the burden of the esophageal cancer. First, in all the areas and countries, age and sex are important factors for the esophageal burden. Second, in all the geographical areas, the burden of esophageal cancer is more related to YLL. Third, the African region and its countries have a special pattern. In the countries of this region, the burden of the esophagus in the age group of 15 - 49 years is more than the age group of > 70 years.
Despite the fact that the GBD study is effective in estimating the global burden of diseases, it has some critical limitations. It does not distinguish between the esophageal cancer burden by its subtype. This could be a topic for upcoming studies since each has its own burden of disease. Moreover, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is more common in developed countries, particularly the United States (
31). In developing countries, the squamous cell carcinoma of esophageal is more common (
32).
The assessment of GBD study is contingent on the accessibility of data sources due to the delay time for data reporting. It may result in a miscalculated cancer burden for countries where there does not exist a complete system to register and report the cancers. For instance, studies have revealed that in some regions of Iran, the rate of incidence and prevalence for esophageal cancer are much higher than estimations conducted in GBD study (
33,
34).
5.1. Conclusions
Esophageal cancer is still a public health issue in the world. In all counties, the majority of DALYs were related to YLL, indicating that prevention and early detection should be seriously considered. Regionally, the burden of disease is different according to the WHO regions. Therefore, a specific and suitable program should be used in every region and country. In addition, the burden of esophageal cancer is more about the elderly people, suggesting that health policy makers pay more attention to programs related to health of the elderly people, especially in developing countries.