Global, regional, and national epidemiology of leukemia in children from 1990 to 2021: A cross-sectional study.
Global childhood leukemia incidence was 4.37 cases per 100,000 children in 2021.
Global, regional, and national epidemiology of leukemia in children from 1990 to 2021: A cross-sectional study.
Childhood leukemia remains a critical global public health challenge, contributing significantly to disability and premature mortality.
Utilizing data from the Global Burden of Diseases 2021, this cross-sectional study analyzed leukemia incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (disability-adjusted life years) among children aged 0 to 14 across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021.
more than 4 in every 100,000 children develop leukemia each year
From 1990 to 2021, global incidence and death rates declined by a total of 0.23% (95% UI, -0.44% to -0.11%) and 0.52% (95% UI, -0.64% to -0.35%), respectively.
However, the low-Sociodemographic Index region exhibited rising incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years rates.
Australasia experienced the largest incidence increase (estimated annual percentage change: 0.67%, 95% confidence interval, 0.23%-1.11%).
Despite global reductions in childhood leukemia burden over 3 decades, persistent disparities across Sociodemographic Index subgroups and regions underscore unmet needs in low-resource settings.
Precision epidemiology and context-specific strategies are imperative to mitigate inequities and optimize prevention and care.