Introduction: Soft Tissue and Other Extraosseous Sarcomas (STOES) represent a rare and heterogeneous group of malignancies with significant clinical challenges due to their complexity and aggressiveness. Despite their low prevalence, the global impact of STOES is substantial, necessitating a detailed examination of their epidemiology and disease burden. Methods: This comprehensive analysis utilized data from the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) covering the years 1990 to 2021. We assessed the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for STOES, categorized by location, sex, and socio-demographic indices. Statistical methods included Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC), Spearman correlation analysis, and Bayesian age-period-cohort modeling. Findings: In 2021, STOES cases reached a global prevalence of 480,473, a significant increase from 1990. High Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions exhibited the highest age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates (ASIR and ASPR) at 2.05 and 10.61 per 100,000 population, respectively. Notably, significant increases were also observed in Central Asia, Central Europe, and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa. Males consistently showed higher disease rates than females. The decomposition analysis highlighted population growth and aging as primary drivers of the observed trends. Forecasting suggests a decline in the global STOES burden by 2030, though disparities will persist, particularly among males. Conclusion: The study reveals critical geographic and demographic disparities in the burden of STOES, underscoring the ongoing higher risk among males and in certain global regions. Despite projected declines in overall disease burden by 2030, substantial disparities are expected to persist, necessitating targeted public health interventions and robust policies to effectively mitigate these differences and enhance global health outcomes.
Keywords: age-standardized rates; estimated annual percentage change; projection; soft tissue and other extraosseous sarcomas.
Why was the study done? This study was conducted to understand the global impact of rare cancers known as soft tissue and other extraosseous sarcomas (STOES). These cancers, although rare, significantly affect patients worldwide, making it important to monitor their occurrence and impact. What did the researchers do? We analyzed global health data from 1990 to 2021 to find out how many people are diagnosed with these cancers each year, how many live with them, and how many die from them. We examined these trends across different global regions and among various demographic groups. What did the researchers find? By 2021, approximately 480,473 people worldwide were living with these cancers, an increase from 1990. The highest rates of these cancers were in economically developed regions, with significant increases also noted in Central Asia, Central Europe, and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa. Men were more affected than women. The rise in cases is attributed to an aging population and overall population growth. We predict a decrease in these cancer cases by 2030, although regional and gender disparities will persist. What do the findings mean? The findings emphasize significant regional and demographic variations in the incidence of these rare cancers. Recognizing these patterns allows for better allocation of health resources and guides research efforts. Despite a projected decrease in cases, ongoing efforts are needed to address disparities through targeted health policies and improved early detection, diagnosis, and multidisciplinary management of STOES.