Disease Burden, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends in Breast Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Global Study.

Introduction: Breast cancer poses significant health risks to women and strains healthcare systems extensively. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), limited resources and inadequate healthcare infrastructures further exacerbate the challenges of breast cancer prevention, treatment, and awareness.

Methods: We examined the prevalence, risk factors, and trends of breast cancer in LMICs. Data on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and breast cancer risk factors were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) databases for 203 countries or territories from 1990 to 2019. LMIC DALY rates were examined using joinpoint regression analysis.

Results: Among the income groups, the lower middle-income category had the highest DALYs value, with 1787 years per 100,000 people. LMICs collectively accounted for 74% of the global burden of DALYs lost due to breast cancer in 2019. However, it remained relatively consistent in lower middle income countries (LMCs). In LMCs, the risk associated with metabolic syndromes was higher compared to that with behavioral factors alone. For the past three decades, breast cancer incidences increased significantly in LMCs (average annual percent change [AAPC]: 1.212, confidence intervals [CI]: 1.51-1.87,  < 0.001), upper middle income countries (AAPC: 1.701, CI: 1.12-1.48,  < 0.001), and low-income countries (AAPC: 1.002, CI: 1.57-1.68,  < 0.001).

Conclusion: This research shows how breast cancer in LMICs is aggravated by low resources and healthcare infrastructure. To effectively combat breast cancer in these areas, future strategies must prioritize improvements in healthcare infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and early detection mechanisms.