Epidemiological surveillance of childhood and adolescent malignancies as a tool for public health strategy…

Cohort studyFrontiers in public health· 2026

Epidemiological surveillance of childhood and adolescent malignancies as a tool for public health strategy: insights from the Polish National Cancer Registry 2023.

Michalina Irzyk, Patrycja Filipek, Urszula Wojciechowska … Joanna Aleksandra Didkowska

Pediatric Hematology & OncologyCohort studyQ1IF 4.0

Burkitt lymphoma showed extreme male predominance in children under 15 in Poland.

Epidemiological surveillance of childhood and adolescent malignancies as a tool for public health strategy: insights from the Polish National Cancer Registry 2023.

Michalina Irzyk … Joanna Aleksandra Didkowska

Frontiers in public health · 2026

Background

Pediatric malignancies require specialized epidemiological surveillance due to their distinct developmental etiology and unique societal impact.

Methods

This population-based retrospective analysis evaluates the incidence and epidemiological patterns of childhood and adolescent malignancies in Poland in 2023, utilizing Polish National Cancer Registry (Polish National Cancer Registry) data to provide an evidence base for health policy optimization.

n = 1,229 new cases

IRR = 10.43

Results

IRR = 10.43

boys were over 10 times more likely than girls to develop it

n = 1,229 new cases

More results

Among the 1,229 new cases recorded (782 in the 0-14 cohort), a bimodal age distribution peaked at 0-4 and 15-19 years.

Descriptive long-term trend analysis suggests an upward trajectory in incidence, with an observed localized peak in 2021-2022.

More results

DISCUSSION: Given current demographic constraints, with Poland's fertility rate (1.2) significantly below the EU average, these malignancies represent a disproportionate loss of future human capital.

Our findings underscore that pediatric oncological care is a high-efficiency investment with a substantial social return.

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Conclusion

We advocate for the establishment of a dedicated pediatric registry integrated with molecular-genetic data, which is essential for the transition toward precision oncology and the strategic allocation of resources to mitigate the long-term socio-economic impact of these malignancies on the population.

Epidemiological surveillance of childhood and adolescent malignancies as a tool for public health strategy: insights from the Polish National Cancer Registry 2023.

Epidemiological surveillance of childhood and adolescent malignancies as a tool for public health strategy: insights from the Polish National Cancer Registry 2023.

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