A quiet crisis: Pancreatic cancer incidence, mortality, and DALYs in Latin America and the Caribbean (1980-2023).

Abstract

e16395 Background: Pancreatic cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, largely because it is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage and responds poorly to available treatments. Recent data from high-income regions show a persistent upward trajectory in pancreatic cancer deaths, with Europe and the United States experiencing steady increases over the past two decades, including marked peaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, Latin America’s pancreatic cancer burden has not been thoroughly analyzed over time, and its trends relative to those in Europe and the United States are not well characterized. Through this study, we aim to examine pancreatic cancer burden in Latin America and Caribbean from 1990 to 2023. Methods: Age-standardized death rates (ASDR), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), Prevalence and Incidence of Pancreatic Cancers in Latin America were calculated from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Database 2023. Joinpoint Regression software was used for analysis. Prevalence and Incidence with 95 % uncertainty intervals and significant trends over time were identified. Statistical significance was set at a p-value < 0.05. Results: Age-Standardized Death Rate (ASDRs) due to Pancreatic cancers in Latin America and Caribbean was reported to 4.56 in 1980, which rose to 5.58 in 2023, with an overall statistically significant increasing trend, dictated by AAPC of 0.51% (95% CI 0.32 to 0.70, p value < 0.000001). Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to Pancreatic cancers in Latin America and Caribbean has also risen from 112.58 in 1990 to 128.74 in 2023, with an uprising overall significant trend, reflected by AAPC of 0.42% (95% CI 0.26 to 0.59, p value < 0.000001). Trend in Age-Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIRs) was also consistent with the overall upward trend, with reported AAPC of 0.57% (95% CI 0.40 to 0.74, p value < 0.000001), with the mean ASIR of 4.70 in 1990, which increased to 5.63 in 2023. Conclusions: To sum up, the burden of pancreatic cancers has significantly risen in the past four decades, not only in Latin America and Caribbean but in the U.S and Europe too which highlights the need of early detection strategies, improved treatment protocols, and targeted preventive measures. These trends also emphasize the necessity for coordinated public health initiatives and enhanced cancer surveillance to address disparities and improve outcomes in high-risk populations.