Estimate of the incidence of bladder cancer in Africa: A systematic review and Bayesian meta‐analysis

Abstract

Objectives To quantify the epidemiology of bladder cancer in Africa to guide a targeted public health response and support research initiatives. Methods We systematically searched publicly available sources for population-based registry studies reporting the incidence of bladder cancer in Africa between January 1980 and June 2017. Crude incidence rates of bladder cancer were extracted. A Bayesian network meta-analysis model was employed to estimate incidence rates. Results The search returned 1,328 studies. Twenty-two studies conducted across 15 African countries met our pre-defined selection criteria. Heterogeneity across studies was high (I2=98.9%, p<0.001). The pooled incidence of bladder cancer in Africa was 7.0 (95% Credible Interval [CI]: 5.8–8.3) per 100,000 population in men and 1.8 (1.2–2.6) per 100,000 in women. The incidence of bladder cancer was consistently higher in North Africa in both sexes. Among men, we estimated a pooled incidence of 10.1 (7.9–11.9) per 100,000 in North Africa and 5.0 (3.8–6.6) per 100,000 in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In women, the pooled incidence was 2.0 (1.0–3.0) per 100,000 and 1.5 (0.9–2.0) per 100,000 in North Africa and SSA, respectively. Incidence rates increased significantly among men from 5.6 (4.2–7.2) in the 1990s to 8.5 (6.9–10.1) per 100,000 in 2010. Conclusions This study suggests a growing incidence of bladder cancer in Africa in recent years, particularly among men and in North Africa. This study also highlights the lack of quality data sources and collection of essential clinical and epidemiological data in several African countries and this maligns public health planning.

Global, regional, and national burdens of bladder cancer in 2017: estimates from the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study

“…While the effect of smoking on the BCa burden is more obvious in high-SDI countries than in low-SDI countries, this may be because low-SDI countries are mostly concentrated in Africa, and the histological subtype of BCa in most parts of Africa has historically been squamous cell carcinoma linked to schistosomiasis. [19] Stopping smoking is the most-effective way to reduce the BCa burden, possibly protecting 30% of males and 28% of the population aged <65 years from the incidence of BCa. [20] Several articles also describe the global burden of BCa.…”

Global, regional, and national burdens of bladder cancer in 2017: estimates from the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study

“…While the effect of smoking on the BCa burden is more obvious in high-SDI countries than in low-SDI countries, this may be because low-SDI countries are mostly concentrated in Africa, and the histological subtype of BCa in most parts of Africa has historically been squamous cell carcinoma linked to schistosomiasis. [18] Stopping smoking is the most-effective way to reduce the BCa burden, possibly protecting 30% of males and 28% of the population aged < 65 years from the incidence of BCa. [19] Based on GBD 2017 data, we have described the epidemiology characteristics of BCa across countries and regions globally, which may facilitate the understanding of the disease status.…”

Global, regional, and national burdens of bladder cancer in 2017: estimates from the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study

“…While the effect of smoking on the BCa burden is more obvious in high-SDI countries than in low-SDI countries, this may be because low-SDI countries are mostly concentrated in Africa, and the histological subtype of BCa in most parts of Africa has historically been squamous cell carcinoma linked to schistosomiasis. [18] Stopping smoking is the most-effective way to reduce the BCa burden, possibly protecting 30% of males and 28% of the population aged <65 years from the incidence of BCa. [19] Several articles also describe the global burden of bladder cancer.…”