A regional prevalence, incidence and mortality burden of bladder cancer in Sub Saharan Africa,1990–2023: an observational study from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023

Bladder cancer (BC) is a the tenth most common causes of all cancers, accounting for nearly 3% of global cancer diagnoses. Bladder cancers are common in Sub-Saharan Africa region, but very little research has been done previously with respect to its prevalence, incidence and mortality burden in this region.

By using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors, this cross-sectional study aims to estimate and analyze the burden of bladder cancer for both sexes and all ages combined in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2023. A secondary analysis of publicly available data from the GBD platform (https://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool/) was conducted. Estimates of bladder cancer prevalence, incidence, and mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported for Sub-Saharan Africa from 1990 to 2023 with Total Percentages Changes (TPC).

In 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded an estimated 85,381 prevalent cases (95% CI: 61,637–116,385), 19,518 incident cases (95% CI: 14,124–26,326), and 11,068 deaths (95% CI: 7,976–15,358) due to bladder cancer. Across the region, the total percentage change increased markedly, more than doubling over the past three decades (1990–2023).

These present study finding results highlight an increasing burden of bladder cancer cases, requiring an urgent need for improved cancer treatment, timely referral, and intensified care, particularly in the subregions with the fastest-growing mortality trends.