Onkológia 3/2023

Epidemiology and risk factors of head and neck tumors

Background: Head and neck tumours represent a heterogeneous group of malignant tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract, which differ in aetiology (risk factors), diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, but also in prognosis. Aim: Data on the epidemiological values of malignant tumours in Slovakia have been absent for a long time. The present analysis aims to evaluate and predict selected epidemiological indicators of head and neck malignancies. The focus was on time trends of incidence, mortality, clinical stages and estimated prevalence of the disease in the Slovak Republic with distribution by gender. Methods: The basis for the calculations was obtained from national databases and outputs of the National Cancer Registry of the Slovak Republic, from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, from the Account of the Insured of the Slovak Republic, from health insurance companies and from the global database outputs of the IARC WHO. The log-linear model of joinpoint regression analysis was used to analyse the time trend. Results: The standardised incidence and mortality of head and neck malignant tumours in males in Slovakia has been significantly decreasing since 1990, but in females a statistically significant unfavourable increasing trend has been observed for both indicators in the long term, in the case of incidence even with a sharp increase since 2004. More than 75% of newly diagnosed cases in locally advanced and metastatic clinical stages also contribute to the unfavourable survival trends. Conclusions: The aim of this analysis is to stimulate research and health policy development and to highlight appropriate strategies to reduce the burden of head and neck tumours in Slovakia. The work also analyzes the risk factors involved in the development of malignant tumours of this location.

Keywords: head and neck tumours, incidence, mortality, prevalence, risk factors