Cancer in Elderly Population of MENA Region is a growing crisis. Cancer rates among the “oldest-old” (Individuals aged 85 and above) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are accelerating at double the global pace. These are the findings of researchers at American University of Beirut Medical Center who analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study and tracked trends from 1990 to 2021.
- Cancer cases in MENA region increased by 54.2% in this group as compared to a 25.3% increase in global cancer cases
- Mortality due to cancer increased by 17.6% in MENA region as compared to 3.1% increase in Global cancer deaths.
Additional key findings from this study are as follows:
Demographic and Lifestyle Drivers
From 1990 to 2023, the MENA population nearly doubled, and life expectancy rose from 64.4 to 74.7 years. The study highlights several compounding factors driving the cancer burden:
- Biological Vulnerability: Declining immune function and genomic instability naturally increase with age.
- Lifestyle Shifts: Rising rates of tobacco use, obesity, and physical inactivity are major contributors.
- Cumulative Exposure: Older adults have faced decades of exposure to potential carcinogens.
Gender-Specific Disparities
- While men generally have higher overall cancer rates, females in the MENA region experienced a much steeper rise in both incidence and mortality.
- The annual rate of increase for cancer incidence was+1.96 for females, compared to +0.83 for males.
- The region recorded the world’s largest increase in breast cancer incidence among women aged 70 and older since 1990. Breast cancer incidence in MENA’s oldest women showed an annual percent change of +5.44, contrasting with a global plateau.
- The leading causes of cancer incidence in women are breast, colorectal, and lung cancers.
- The leading cancer diagnoses in men are prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers.
- While prostate cancer incidence has declined globally, it has significantly increased within the MENA region.
Researchers observed that the cancer mortality rates among the oldest-old in MENA often exceed incidence rates. They attribute this paradox to underdiagnosis, registry gaps, and high case fatality driven by frailty and late-stage presentation.
Regional Disparities and Systemic Barriers
Socioeconomic disparities across the region have created two distinct cancer realities.
- Wealthier nations like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar report the highest cancer incidence rates, largely due to advanced infrastructure and superior screening systems that successfully detect cases.
- Conflict-affected or lower-income nations like Syria and Yemen show lower incidence but disproportionately higher mortality. Restricted healthcare access and limited diagnostic tools mean cancers are often underdiagnosed or identified only at advanced, fatal stages.
These stark realities suggest the true burden of cancer in the region may be even higher than reported.
Policy and Research Recommendations
The rising cancer burden among the oldest-old in MENA requires a comprehensive, context-specific response. The study recommends:
- Targeted public health measures to reduce preventable cancers and comorbid conditions by addressing tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and low uptake of preventive vaccinations such as HPV and Hepatitis B.
- Age-appropriate, non-invasive screening guided by life expectancy tools such as ePrognosis to ensure screening benefits those likely to gain from it.
- Prioritizing geriatric oncology – Integrating geriatric assessment tools into cancer care. This helps manage frailty and prevents both overtreatment and undertreatment.
- Region-specific guidelines tailored to MENA’s sociocultural and economic contexts, with active involvement of the oldest-old in both policy design and research.
- Greater inclusion of the oldest-old in clinical trials to build region-specific evidence for care.
- Enhance national cancer registries to capture accurate data. This is vital for allocating resources effectively to underserved areas.
Article edited and summarized by Diya E H
Reference Source Lakkis, N. A., Mokalled, N. M., Osman, M. H., & Musharrafieh, U. M. (2025). Cancer in the Oldest-Old Population in the MENA Region: Epidemiology and Temporal Trends Based on GBD 2021. Cancer Control, 32, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748251408880
Read more regional research news on cancer https://menamedicalresearch.com/news/category/cancers/
