Global burden of acute lymphoblastic leukemia following the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: ALL is the most common childhood cancer globally, accounting for about 25% of cancer diagnoses in children under 15 years old. This study aimed to investigate the temporal trends and disparities in the global burden of ALL following the COVID-19 pandemic using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. METHODS: Data were obtained from the GBD 2021 database, covering 204 countries and territories across five socio-demographic index (SDI) regions. Incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were analyzed, with age-standardized rates (ASRs) calculated for comparability. Joinpoint regression models and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were used to assess temporal trends from 1990 to 2021. RESULTS: Globally, the incidence of ALL increased from 98,149 cases in 1990 to 103,727 cases in 2021, while the prevalence rose from 237,056 to 386,813 cases. However, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) decreased from 1.8 to 1.4 per 100,000 persons (EAPC = -0.64), and the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) increased from 4.1 to 5.4 per 100,000 persons (EAPC = 1.4). Notably, a significant decrease in incidence was observed in high-middle, middle, and high SDI regions During 2019-2021. Deaths and DALYs showed a downward trend, with the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDALYs) decreasing across all SDI quintiles. The highest burden was observed in children under 5 years, with significant disparities between high-middle and middle SDI regions. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global burden of ALL, particularly in high-middle and middle SDI regions. Tailored prevention strategies and improved healthcare access are needed to address disparities and reduce the burden of ALL. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of the pandemic on ALL. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of the pandemic on ALL outcomes and the development of targeted interventions for high-risk populations.