Comprehensive analysis of the disease burden of breast cancer in the Chinese population based on The Annual Report of the Chinese Tumour Registry and Global Burden of Disease data

BACKGROUND Comprehensive analyses of statistical data on breast cancer incidence, mortality, and associated risk factors are of great value for decision-making related to reducing the disease burden of breast cancer. METHODS: Based on data from the Annual Report of China Tumour Registry and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), we conducted summary and trend analyses of incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in Chinese women from 2014 to 2018 for urban and rural areas in the whole, eastern, central, and western parts of the country, and projected the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer for 2019 in comparison with the GBD 2019 estimates. And the comparative risk assessment framework estimated risk factors contributing to breast cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from GBD. RESULTS: The Annual Report of the Chinese Tumour Registry showed that showed that the mortality rate of breast cancer declined and the incidence rate remained largely unchanged from 2014 to 2018. There was a significant increasing trend in incidence rates among urban and rural women in eastern China and rural women in central China, whereas there was a significant decreasing trend in mortality rates among rural women in China. The two data sources have some differences in their predictions of breast cancer in China in 2019. The GBD data estimated the age-standard DALYs rates of high body-mass index, high fasting plasma glucose and diet high in red meat, which are the top three risk factors attributable to breast cancer in Chinese women, to be 29.99/100,000, 13.66/100,000 and 13.44/100,000, respectively. Conclusion: The trend of breast cancer incidence and mortality rates shown in the Annual Report of China Tumour Registry indicates that China has achieved remarkable results in reducing the burden of breast cancer, but there is still a need to further improve breast cancer screening and early diagnosis and treatment, and to improve the system of primary prevention. The GBD database provides risk factors for breast cancer in the world, Asia, and China, and lays the foundation for research on effective measures to reduce the burden of breast cancer.