Thyroid Cancer Burden among Women of Childbearing Age: A 30-Year Global Analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study

Thyroid Cancer (TC) is a global health concern with varying levels and trends across countries and regions, while women of child-bearing age (WCBA) are often neglected despite their unique epidemiology, healthcare needs and societal implications. We aim to investigate the pattern and trend of female TC among WCBA from 1990 to 2021. The data for this study were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, with age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), prevalence rate (ASPR), mortality rate (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as the primary assessment indicators. Dynamic changes in the TC burden among WCBA were analyzed by estimating the annual percentage changes (EAPCs), and a Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict future 30-year trends. Health inequalities were analyzed using the slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index (CI). The global TC incidence increased from 26,302 cases in 1990 to 67,558 in 2021, with a corresponding rise in ASIR from 2.17 to 3.36 per 100,000 among women aged 15–49. While ASMR showed a slight decline, indicating improvements in treatment efficacy and early detection, health inequalities persist, particularly in lower socio-demographic index (SDI) countries, where ASIR and DALYs remain significantly elevated. Significant regional disparities were observed, with South Asia reporting the highest burden and North America the lowest. Our predictions suggest that the ASIR and ASDR for TC will increase to 3.94 and 10.86 per 100,000 by 2051, respectively, while the ASMR will decline to 0.14. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced screening, targeted interventions, and resource allocation, particularly in low and middle-income regions, to effectively manage thyroid cancer and mitigate the associated health disparities. Future research should focus on the underlying biological factors and the effectiveness of public health strategies to further reduce the burden of this disease.