Incidence and Mortality of Salivary Gland Cancer Worldwide and Its Correlation with Tobacco Use (Smoking and Chewing) and With the Human Development Index

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the association between the incidence and mortality of salivary gland cancer (SGC) with the consumption of tobacco and with the Human Development Index (HDI). An ecological study was designed using SGC incidence and mortality data in 172 countries in 2020, reported per 100,000 population with an age range of 10–85 years. Such dependent variables were obtained from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN). The prevalences of smoked and chewed tobacco were obtained from reports made in 2019, sourced from Global Burden of Diseases Study, while the HDI was obtained from the Human Development Report (2019) presented by the United Nations Development Program, and were considered independent variables. Statistical analysis was performed in Stata using Spearman’s correlation test. In 2020, there were 53,583 new cases of SGC worldwide, and countries with very high HDI exhibited a higher incidence. In terms of mortality, there were 22,778 cases worldwide, and countries with a moderate HDI showed a higher number of deaths. SGC mortality was associated with chewing tobacco use overall and in women. Surprising negative associations were found with the incidence of SGC and tobacco smoking in men, as well as with mortality of SGC and smoking overall and in women. CGS mortality was negatively associated with the HDI and all its components. In this international overview, SGC mortality is associated with chewing tobacco in women, as well as with the HDI and its components.