6 Nov 2024 • A sweeping global study has estimated that cancer cases and deaths could nearly double by 2050, with low-HDI countries facing the steepest climb.

• In 2022, there were 20 million cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide, but by 2050, cancer cases are expected to rise by 77%, and deaths by 90%, reaching 35.3 million and 18.5 million, respectively.
• The most significant increase is projected in low-HDI countries, where cases and deaths could nearly triple, while very high-HDI countries will see more modest increases.
• The male-female disparity in cancer incidence and mortality is also expected to widen. Males had a higher incidence and greater number of deaths in 2022 than females, with this disparity projected to widen by up to 16.0% in 2050.
• In 2022, the mortality to incidence ratio (MIR) for all cancers was 46.6%, with higher MIRs observed for pancreatic cancer (89.4%), among males (51.7%), among those aged 75 years or older (64.3%), in low-HDI countries (69.9%), and in the African region (67.2%).

Source: JAMA | Read full story