Trends in mortality, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years of laryngeal cancer in Pakistan from 1990 to 2023: A comprehensive analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study.

e18010 Background: Laryngeal cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Pakistan. Tobacco consumption, air pollution, and occupational exposures are key risk factors contributing to this burden. Despite its clinical significance, national and regional trend data for LC in Pakistan remain uncharacterized. Methods: We extracted data from the Global Burden of Disease GBD 2023 study to estimate age-standardized mortality (ASMRs), incidence (ASIR), and disability-adjusted life years (ASDALYs) rates per 100,000 population from 1990 to 2023. Analyses were performed using linear regression with Joinpoint software to estimate the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to quantify temporal trends. Results: From 1990 to 2023, the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of laryngeal cancer in Pakistan increased from 3.72 to 3.95 per 100,000 population (AAPC: +0.12%). Similarly, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) rose from 4.21 to 4.85 (AAPC: +0.37%), while the age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (ASDALYs) showed a fluctuating upward trend from 101.1 to 112.9 per 100,000 (AAPC: +0.28%). Regionally, Islamabad consistently recorded the highest mortality and incidence rates throughout the study period, whereas Gilgit-Baltistan exhibited the most pronounced increase in mortality (AAPC: +1.03%). Both males (APC: +5.08%) and females (APC: +4.07%) experienced a marked surge in mortality between 2018 and 2021, accompanied by parallel increases in incidence and DALY rates. Gender-specific analysis revealed that males maintained consistently higher ASMR and ASDALY values than females across all years. The 20–54-year age group showed the greatest rise in both ASIR (AAPC: +0.90%) and ASDALY (AAPC: +0.69%) during the study period. Conclusions: Over the past three decades, Pakistan's mortality, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years have all gradually but steadily increased due to laryngeal cancer. The increasing patterns, especially among men and those between the ages of 20-54, point to a developing public health issue. The necessity for region-specific cancer control methods is highlighted by regional differences, with Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad exhibiting the highest and fastest rising rates, respectively. Strengthening early detection, reducing tobacco use, and improving access to diagnostic and treatment facilities are crucial to curbing the escalating burden of laryngeal cancer in Pakistan.