Abstract

Background

Assessment of the morbidity and mortality burden of cancers and their evolving trends is crucial for making informed policy decisions and effective resource allocation. We aimed to examine the burden of cancer in Taiwan from 2000 to 2021 using a national population-based database.

Methods

Linking data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry and National Death Registry, we calculated years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 30 specific cancer groups. Our methodology aligns with the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Results

In Taiwan, from 2000 to 2021, the age-standardized cancer mortality rate decreased by 13.8%, while the prevalence rate increased by 80.5%. In 2021, the age-standardized DALYs for total cancer were 3784.2 per 100,000 population. In 2021, in Taiwan, lung, liver, and colorectal cancers were the leading contributors to cancer-related DALYs for men, whereas breast, lung, and colorectal cancers were predominant for women. Life expectancy decomposition analysis revealed distinct patterns by sex, with significant gains for specific cancers from 2000 to 2021: cervical, stomach, and liver cancers in women (0.20, 0.13, and 0.12 years, respectively) and liver, lung, and stomach cancers in men (0.37, 0.17, and 0.17 years, respectively).

Conclusion

Our finding of declining cancer DALY rates in Taiwan over the past two decades may reflect improvements in cancer control, particularly the significant decrease in liver and lung cancer burden. However, the rising burden of breast cancer and the sustained impact of colorectal and oral cancers warrant targeted attention in health policies, resource allocation, and research to reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of life.