Korea 'Silver Tsunami' Threat...a growing number of tumors in the central nervous system
Jul 17, 2024
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Primary central nervous system tumors (PCNSTs) are malignant and benign tumors that occur in the brain and surrounding tissues.
Although the occurrence of primary central nervous system tumors is relatively rare, it is an important cause of cancer development, accounting for 2.5% of cancer deaths worldwide.
In addition to mortality, primary central nervous system tumors are associated with high rates of disability worldwide and are a major cause of poor quality of life in patients.
Therefore, primary central nervous system tumors have a significant impact on the current medical system, and very specialized and multidisciplinary medical management is required for effective treatment of primary central nervous system tumors. Timely and accurate epidemiological data are critical to establishing the right national policy to create effective clinical care and the optimal treatment environment for it.
In response, the research team conducted a study with the latest national data on primary central nervous system tumors in South Korea in 2020 obtained from the National Cancer Data (KNCI DB) of the Central Cancer Registry (KCCR), and further analyzed the trend of primary central nervous system tumor incidence related to the aging population and low birth rate in South Korea observed over the past decade.
According to the data, a total of 15,568 primary central nervous system tumors were diagnosed in South Korea in 2020, and the incidence rate has been steadily increasing since 2010.
Although there are tumors that have actually increased, brain-related MRI scans have increased (469,000 as of 2010 and 1.67 million in 2020), possibly increasing the overall number due to an accidental increase in the number of brain tumors.
In addition, from 2010 to 2020, the total population of South Korea increased by about 4.6%, while the elderly aged 60 or older increased by 51.9% and the younger population under 20 decreased by 22.7%. In this regard, glioblastoma and primary central nervous system lymphoma associated with the elderly population are gradually increasing, and embryonic tumors associated with the young population are gradually decreasing.
As such, this study is significant in the first observation that social demographic problems such as rapid population aging and low birth rate in Korea have begun to directly affect the incidence of primary central nervous system tumors.
In this regard, the number of elderly cancer patients is currently increasing not only in Korea but also around the world, and this is described as 'silver tsunami'.
Through this study, it was confirmed that the silver tsunami was coming toward Korea, and it is judged that it is necessary to accurately recognize and prepare for it. In addition, it is expected to provide important evidence for establishing appropriate cancer treatment strategies to cope with the aging population.
Professor Byun Yoon-hwan confirmed that Korea is aging rapidly and that these demographic changes have a direct impact on the epidemiological pattern of primary central nervous system tumors"There is a need to recognize these epidemiological changes and prepare appropriate health care policies for the proper treatment of the increasing number of elderly cancer patients " he stressed.
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bellho@sportschosun.com
