Smoking-related bladder cancer burden from 1990 to 2021: An age-period-cohort analysis of the global burden of disease study

INTRODUCTION: Bladder cancer is common in the elderly, with smoking as a major risk factor. This study assesses the global burden of bladder cancer attributable to smoking, using data from 204 countries and regions (1990-2021). METHODS: Mortality, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized DALY rates (ASDR) were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. The burden of smoking-related bladder cancer was analyzed by age, gender, and sociodemographic index (SDI). RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2021, global deaths due to smoking-related bladder cancer increased by 42.9%, while disability rose by 31.0%. In 2021, the global number of bladder cancer deaths due to smoking reached 58766 (95% UI: 49381-70891). Despite these increases, both ASMR and ASDR declined globally. Males experienced a higher increase in mortality and disability, with rates approximately 10 times higher than females. Middle SDI countries saw the largest rise in burden. The annual decline in mortality was 2.06%, greater in males than females. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of smoking-related bladder cancer is higher in males, middle-aged and elderly individuals, and medium to high SDI countries. Targeted prevention and health policies are crucial to reducing the disease's impact on populations and healthcare systems.