Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Head and Neck Cancer Subsites Among Elderly Patients: A Population-Based Analysis.

UNLABELLED

The incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) has significantly increased over the past two decades.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study analyzed trends in HNC incidence and mortality using data from the Polish Cancer Register (1999-2021) across three age cohorts (60-69, 70-79, and 80+) and projected trends through to 2035. Statistical analyses included regression, correlation, and parallelism tests, with significance levels of α = 0.05 and Bonferroni correction applied (αc ≈ 0.017).

RESULTS

In the 60-69 cohort, incidence rates increased faster than mortality rates ( < 0.001), especially for oral and oropharyngeal cancers in women ( < 0.001). For the 70-79 cohort, mortality rates rose slower than incidence ( < 0.05), most notably for salivary gland cancers across genders and oral cavity cancers in women. In the 80+ group, both incidence and mortality increased ( < 0.05), but mortality rates rose faster for laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, and oral cancers in men and the general population ( < 0.017). The largest increases were observed in oral cancer among women, with a marked rise across all age groups ( < 0.001). Gender-specific patterns highlighted stable or modestly rising trends in males but a notable increase in females, particularly in the 80+ group.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore that older patients are not a homogeneous group in terms of HNC incidence and survival. This study emphasizes age- and gender-specific strategies for prevention and management. Expanding HPV vaccination and improving early detection are crucial, particularly for high-risk groups like older women and those with HPV-related cancers. Tailored approaches could mitigate rising trends and improve survival outcomes.