Worldwide Burden of Retinoblastoma from 1990 to 2021.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to report the global, regional, and national burden of retinoblastoma between 1990 and 2021, by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Methods: We leveraged the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study to elucidate the epidemiological landscape of retinoblastoma, encompassing prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across 204 nations and territories spanning the period from 1990 to 2021. The SDI was employed to evaluate the interplay between socioeconomic development and the burden of retinoblastoma.

Results: In 2021, global estimates unveiled 57,333 prevalent cases of retinoblastoma, yielding 6,274 incident cases, 2,762 deaths, and 243,204 DALYs. Globally, the age-standardized prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALY rates for retinoblastoma in 2021 were 0.86, 0.09, 0.04, and 3.65 per 100,000 population, respectively. Tokelau, Kenya, and Portugal demonstrated the highest age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates of retinoblastoma in 2021. The global prevalence of retinoblastoma peaks among children aged 2-4 years and subsequently declines with increasing age. At the regional level, the correlation between SDI and age-standardized prevalence rates for retinoblastoma manifested a V-shaped pattern.

Conclusions: This comprehensive examination of retinoblastoma epidemiological trends underscores the imperative for heightened vigilance and more efficacious therapeutic interventions, especially within resource-limited environments. The findings accentuate the need for targeted strategies to address the disparate burden of retinoblastoma across diverse socioeconomic landscapes.