The burden of bladder cancer in the MENA region: a 3-decade analysis

Background: Bladder cancer (BC), as the most common malignancy of the urinary system, imposes a substantial epidemiological and economic burden worldwide. Due to its wide range of pathological properties, this disease requires various management methods, making it a challenging malignancy to control. Methods: This study utilised data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study to detail the incidence, deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to bladder cancer, presented as counts and age-standardised rates with 95 % uncertainty intervals. Results: In 2021, BC accounted for an age-standardised incidence of 8.2 per 100,000 (95 % UI: 6.9 to 10.0). This disease was also responsible for an age-standardised death rate of 3.2 (95 % UI: 2.8 % to 3.9 %) per 100,000. Furthermore, BC imposed an age-standardised DALY rate of 66.3 (95 % UI: 13.9 to 24.9) per 100,000 population. However, these three parameters have not changed significantly since 1990. Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran were the only countries that had large rises in their age-standardised incidence rates from 1990 to 2021, while Qatar and Bahrain showed significant declines in their age-standardised death and DALY rates. Conclusions: The burden of bladder cancer increased in the region between 1990 and 2021, although this increase was not statistically significant. This observation may change as further evidence becomes available, particularly with larger sample sizes and longer periods of observation. Furthermore, these findings may also reflect advances in healthcare systems and diagnostic capabilities. As the population continues to grow and age, there is an increasing urgency for more effective preventive strategies to address the risk factors associated with bladder cancer.