This study presents the latest estimates made by global burden of disease (GBD) of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) caused by oesophageal cancer (OC) for 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017, by age and sex.

GBD methods

There were 472 525 (95% UI 459 485–485 294) new cases of OC and 435 959 (424 994–447 580) deaths due to OC in 2017. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates were 5.9 (5.7–6.1) and 5.5 (5.3–5.6) per 100 000, respectively. There were also 9.8 million (9.5–10.0) DALYs due to OC, with an age-standardised rate of 119.9 (116.9–123.0) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised incidence, mortality, and DALY rates decreased by 22%, 29%, and 33%, respectively, while, due to population growth and ageing, the total number of new cases, deaths, and total DALYs increased by 52%, 40%, and 27%, respectively. The highest incidence, mortality, and DALY rates were observed in some countries in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa (eg, Malawi, eSwatini, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe), and east and central Asia (eg, China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan). The age-standardised incidence (2.7-fold), mortality (2.9-fold), and DALY (3.0-fold) rates in 2017 were higher for men than women. Rates for both sexes were highest in age groups 50 to 90. Smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, high body-mass index, low intake of fruits, and chewing tobacco were responsible for 38.9% (35.4–42.1), 33.6% (27.1–39.6), 19.4% (6.3–35.9), 19.1% (4.2–34.6), and 7.5% (5.2–9.6) of DALYs, respectively.

Despite reductions in age-standardised incidence and mortality rates, OC remains a major cause of burden. Oesophageal cancer with a high mortality-to-incidence ratio requires increased primary prevention efforts and perhaps screening. There is variation in rates across regions and countries, as well as within countries, for reasons that are unclear.