Pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis burdens in adults aged 70 and older, 1990–2021
In adults aged 70 and older, pancreatic cancer incidence rose from 45.1 to 54.5 per 100,000 between 1990 and 2021, while pancreatitis fell from 105.4 to 91.9; the abstract reports these as diverging trajectories. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The study analyzed age-standardized incidence, mortality and DALYs for pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis in adults aged 70 and older across 204 countries from 1990 to 2021, using Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 data. [1]
Pancreatic cancer incidence rose from 45.1 to 54.5 per 100,000, while pancreatitis incidence fell from 105.4 to 91.9 between 1990 and 2021. [1]
Smoking accounted for 12.1% of pancreatic cancer DALYs and high fasting plasma glucose for 29.2%, with the latter's role growing over time; alcohol use represented 11.1% of pancreatitis DALYs. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a comparative burden analysis using Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 data
- Population / context
- Adults aged 70 and older in 204 countries, 1990 to 2021
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 17, 2026
Burden estimates for adults 70 and older across 204 countries
The study used Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 data to assess age-standardized incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis in adults aged 70 and older across 204 countries, from 1990 to 2021. Results were stratified by sex, by the Socio-demographic Index (SDI, a measure of development) and by health system performance. The authors calculated estimated annual percentage changes and applied age-period-cohort modeling to assess risk factors.
Supporting source [1]
Diverging trends and risk factor shares in the abstract
Pancreatic cancer incidence rose from 45.1 to 54.5 per 100,000, and its burden increased universally, particularly in low-middle SDI regions. Pancreatitis incidence fell from 105.4 to 91.9; its burden declined in high-SDI regions but rose in low-middle SDI settings. Smoking accounted for 12.1% of pancreatic cancer DALYs and high fasting plasma glucose for 29.2%, with the latter's role growing over time. Alcohol use represented 11.1% of pancreatitis DALYs. These are associations in burden estimates, not proof of cause.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and suggested prevention priorities
The authors conclude that the two diseases show divergent global trajectories in older adults, attributed to socioeconomic development, health system access and modifiable risk factors. They call for strengthened prevention and early detection of pancreatic cancer, especially in low-resource settings, and for public health efforts on smoking cessation, glycemic control and reduced alcohol use. These are the authors' recommendations, not tested interventions in this analysis. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed, so study details beyond it are unknown.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed. Design details, data sources and uncertainty ranges beyond the abstract are unknown. The risk factor shares are associations in burden estimates, not causal findings, and the prevention priorities are the authors' recommendations.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Huang L, Song B, Zou WB, Liu Y, Liao Z, Li Z. · europepmc.org · July 17, 2026