Cancer in children: The tip of the iceberg.

Pediatric cancer outcomes have improved dramatically in high-income countries (HICs) with more than 80% of patients surviving. This has been achieved through early diagnosis, the formation of collaborative research groups, and government policies. However, most children with cancer in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not survive due to multiple factors including lack of resources, manpower, and national level pediatric cancer policy. If we need to improve the overall outcome of children with cancer then we need to focus our attention on children in LMICs as they constitute 80% of the worldwide disease burden. This article looks at the burden of pediatric cancer, examines pediatric oncology policy paralysis, and offers possible solutions for improving care for children with cancer.

Supporting Clinical Decision-Making during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic through a Global Research Commitment: The TERAVOLT Experience.

To understand the real impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, an entirely new data collection effort was initiated within the Thoracic Cancers International COVID-19 Collaboration (TERAVOLT). TERAVOLT reported high mortality related to COVID-19 infection in thoracic cancer patients and identified several negative prognostic factors. In this commentary, we discuss the importance and limits of patient registries to support decision-making in thoracic cancer during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Limited alignment of publicly competitive disease funding with disease burden in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The need to align investments in health research and development (R&D) with public health needs is one of the most important public health challenges in Japan. We examined the alignment of disease-specific publicly competitive R&D funding to the disease burden in the country. METHODS: We analyzed publicly available data on competitive public funding for health in 2015 and 2016 and compared it to disability-adjusted life year (DALYs) in 2016, which were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 study. Their alignment was assessed as a percentage distribution among 22 GBD disease groups. Funding was allocated to the 22 disease groups based on natural language processing, using textual information such as project title and abstract for each research project, while considering for the frequency of information. RESULTS: Total publicly competitive funding in health R&D in 2015 and 2016 reached 344.1 billion JPY (about 3.0 billion USD) for 32,204 awarded projects. About 49.5% of the funding was classifiable for disease-specific projects. Five GDB disease groups were significantly and relatively well-funded compared to their contributions to Japan's DALY, including neglected tropical diseases and malaria (funding vs DALY = 1.7% vs 0.0%, p<0.01) and neoplasms (28.5% vs 19.2%, p<0.001). In contrast, four GDB disease groups were significantly under-funded, including cardiovascular diseases (8.0% vs 14.8%, p<0.001) and musculoskeletal disorders (1.0% vs 11.9%, p<0.001). These percentages do not include unclassifiable funding. CONCLUSIONS: While caution is necessary as this study was not able to consider public in-house funding and the methodological uncertainties could not be ruled out, the analysis may provide a snapshot of the limited alignment between publicly competitive disease-specific funding and the disease burden in the country. The results call for greater management over the allocation of scarce resources on health R&D. DALYs will serve as a crucial, but not the only, consideration in aligning Japan's research priorities with the public health needs. In addition, the algorithms for natural language processing used in this study require continued efforts to improve accuracy.

Asthma prevalence trends in Chile: a prelude of the Global Asthma Network findings?

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Childhood cancer burden: a review of global estimates.

5-year net survival of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer is approximately 80% in many high-income countries. This estimate is encouraging as it shows the substantial progress that has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer. Unfortunately, scarce data are available for low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where nearly 90% of children with cancer reside, suggesting that global survival estimates are substantially worse in these regions. As LMICs are undergoing a rapid epidemiological transition, with a shifting burden from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases, cancer care for all ages has become a global focus. To improve outcomes for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer worldwide, an accurate appraisal of the global burden of childhood cancer is a necessary first step. In this Review, we analyse four studies of the global cancer burden that included data for children and adolescents. Each study used various overlapping and non-overlapping statistical approaches and outcome metrics. Moreover, to provide guidance on improving future estimates of the childhood global cancer burden, we propose several recommendations to strengthen data collection and standardise analyses. Ultimately, these data could help stakeholders to develop plans for national and institutional cancer programmes, with the overall aim of helping to reduce the global burden of cancer in children and adolescents.

Ischaemic heart disease in the former Soviet Union 1990-2015 according to the Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality and risk factor burden across former Soviet Union (fSU) and satellite countries and regions in 1990 and 2015. METHODS: The fSU and satellite countries were grouped into Central Asian, Central European and Eastern European regions. IHD mortality data for men and women of any age were gathered from national vital registration, and age, sex, country, year-specific IHD mortality rates were estimated in an ensemble model. IHD morbidity and mortality burden attributable to risk factors was estimated by comparative risk assessment using population attributable fractions. RESULTS: In 2015, age-standardised IHD death rates in Eastern European and Central Asian fSU countries were almost two times that of satellite states of Central Europe. Between 1990 and 2015, rates decreased substantially in Central Europe (men -43.5% (95% uncertainty interval -45.0%, -42.0%); women -42.9% (-44.0%, -41.0%)) but less in Eastern Europe (men -5.6% (-9.0, -3.0); women -12.2% (-15.5%, -9.0%)). Age-standardised IHD death rates also varied within regions: within Eastern Europe, rates decreased -51.7% in Estonian men (-54.0, -47.0) but increased +19.4% in Belarusian men (+12.0, +27.0). High blood pressure and cholesterol were leading risk factors for IHD burden, with smoking, body mass index, dietary factors and ambient air pollution also ranking high. CONCLUSIONS: Some fSU countries continue to experience a high IHD burden, while others have achieved remarkable reductions in IHD mortality. Control of blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking are IHD prevention priorities.

Mortality due to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and disorders attributed to alcohol use: Global Burden of Disease in Brazil, 1990 and 2015. / Mortalidade por cirrose, câncer hepático e transtornos devidos ao uso de álcool: Carga Global de Doenças no Brasil, 1990 e 2015.

INTRODUCTION:: Alcohol use is one of the main preventable risk factors affecting mortality and premature disability. OBJECTIVE:: To describe the estimates of mortality and years of life lost as a result of premature death (YLL) due to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and disorders attributed to alcohol use in Brazil and its federated units in 1990 and 2015. METHODS:: Descriptive study using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (2015) and the Mortality Information System (SIM). Statistical models were used to obtain corrected mortality estimates for selected causes. Rates were standardized by age. RESULTS:: In 1990, 16,226 deaths were estimated for the three conditions (17.0/100 thousand inhabitants), while in 2015 there were 28,337 deaths (15.7/100 thousand inhabitants). There was a reduction in mortality (per 100 thousand) due to cirrhosis (from 11.4 to 9.5), stability in mortality rates related to liver cancer (1.5 and 1.9), and stability in mortality rates caused by alcohol use disorders (4.1 and 4.3). Mortality rates were 5.1 times higher among men, and the five states with the highest mortality rates and YLL were from the Northeast Region: Sergipe, Ceará, Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Alagoas. Mortality and YLL rates for the three conditions studied increased in the ranking of causes of death in both sexes, with the exception of cirrhosis in the female population. CONCLUSION:: The three conditions studied are responsible for a significant burden of premature mortality in Brazil, especially among men and residents of the northeast region. These results reinforce the urgent need for public policies that address harmful alcohol consumption in Brazil.

Mortalidade por cirrose, câncer hepático e transtornos devidos ao uso de álcool: Carga Global de Doenças no Brasil, 1990 e 2015 / Mortality due to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and disorders attributed to alcohol use: Global Burden of Disease in Brazil, 1990 and 2015

RESUMO: Introdução: O uso de álcool é um dos principais fatores de risco preveníveis para mortalidade ou incapacidade prematuras. Objetivo: Descrever as estimativas de mortalidade e anos de vida perdidos por morte prematura (YLL) por cirrose, câncer hepático e transtornos devidos ao uso de álcool no Brasil e suas unidades da federação (UFs), em 1990 e 2015. Métodos: Estudo descritivo com dados do estudo de Carga Global de Doenças (2015) e do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM). Modelos estatísticos foram empregados para obter estimativas corrigidas de mortalidade pelas causas selecionadas. As taxas de mortalidade foram padronizadas por idade (TMPI). Resultados: Em 1990, foram estimados 16.226 óbitos para as 3 condições (17,0/100 mil habitantes), enquanto em 2015 foram 28.337 (15,7/100 mil habitantes). Houve redução da mortalidade (por 100 mil habitantes) por cirrose (de 11,4 para 9,5) e estabilidade por câncer hepático (1,5 e 1,9) e transtornos devidos ao uso de álcool (4,1 e 4,3). As TMPI foram 5,1 vezes maiores entre os homens, e as 5 UFs com maiores TMPI e YLL foram da Região Nordeste: Sergipe, Ceará, Pernambuco, Paraíba e Alagoas. As taxas de mortalidade e de YLL pelas três condições estudadas ascenderam no ranking das causas de óbito, em ambos os sexos, exceto a cirrose no feminino. Conclusão: As três condições estudadas são responsáveis por importante carga de mortalidade prematura no Brasil, principalmente entre homens e residentes na região nordeste. Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade de políticas públicas para o enfrentamento ao consumo nocivo do álcool no Brasil.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Alcohol use is one of the main preventable risk factors affecting mortality and premature disability. Objective: To describe the estimates of mortality and years of life lost as a result of premature death (YLL) due to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and disorders attributed to alcohol use in Brazil and its federated units in 1990 and 2015. Methods: Descriptive study using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (2015) and the Mortality Information System (SIM). Statistical models were used to obtain corrected mortality estimates for selected causes. Rates were standardized by age. Results: In 1990, 16,226 deaths were estimated for the three conditions (17.0/100 thousand inhabitants), while in 2015 there were 28,337 deaths (15.7/100 thousand inhabitants). There was a reduction in mortality (per 100 thousand) due to cirrhosis (from 11.4 to 9.5), stability in mortality rates related to liver cancer (1.5 and 1.9), and stability in mortality rates caused by alcohol use disorders (4.1 and 4.3). Mortality rates were 5.1 times higher among men, and the five states with the highest mortality rates and YLL were from the Northeast Region: Sergipe, Ceará, Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Alagoas. Mortality and YLL rates for the three conditions studied increased in the ranking of causes of death in both sexes, with the exception of cirrhosis in the female population. Conclusion: The three conditions studied are responsible for a significant burden of premature mortality in Brazil, especially among men and residents of the northeast region. These results reinforce the urgent need for public policies that address harmful alcohol consumption in Brazil.