The nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Xiamen China from 2011 to 2020: a population-based linkage study

Abstract Background Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not common in most parts of the world but is particularly prevalent in southern China. This study analyzed NPC incidence, mortality, years of life lost (YLL), and survival rates in Xiamen from 2011 to 2020. Methods This study mainly utilized data from the Xiamen City Cancer Registry, and cancer follow-up cohort, covering the period from 2011 to 2020. Crude and age-standardized incidence, mortality, YLL, and survival rates, as well as their trends were analyzed using annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), stratified by sex and residency status. Results From 2011 to 2020, Xiamen reported 996 new NPC cases (733 males, 263 females) and 513 deaths (396 males, 117 females). Age-standardized incidence, mortality, and YLL rates were 3.58/100,000, 1.83/100,000, and 65.10/100,000, respectively. The AAPC in incidence and mortality rates of NPC was − 5.48% (95% CI: −9.25, −1.54, P < 0.05) and − 0.82% (95% CI: −6.01, 4.65, P > 0.05), respectively. The 5-year age-standardized relative survival rate was 55.98% (95%CI: 52.08, 60.17). Conclusion Over the recent decade, a consistent decline in the incidence of NPC has been observed, accompanied an insignificant decreasing mortality trend in Xiamen. Future efforts could focus on enhancing prevention, screening, and treatment strategies to potentially reinforcing these positive trends.