Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), a type of lymphatic cancer, remains a significant health challenge across OECD countries, characterized by variations in incidence, treatment outcomes, and survival rates. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, the burden of this disease is unevenly distributed, influenced by factors such as healthcare infrastructure, access to medical care, and socioeconomic disparities. The shift towards precision medicine and integrated healthcare strategies highlights the need for a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological patterns and burden of HL within these nations. This study aims to quantify incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and the impact of healthcare disparities on disease outcomes, thereby informing targeted policy interventions and healthcare resource allocation to improve patient outcomes and reduce the disease burden.

The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 tool was utilized to assess the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs associated with HL by age, sex, year and location across 38 OECD countries from 1990 to 2021. We employed the DisMod MR 2.1 meta-regression tool to calculate non-fatal health outcomes and the Cause of Death Ensemble Model (CODEm) to evaluate fatal health outcomes.

Between 1990 and 2021, the prevalence of HL increased slightly from 167,349.95 (with a 95% uncertainty interval of 162,738 to 172,096.8) to 171,987 (164,649 to 179,057). During the same period, the number of deaths declined from 7,938.43 (7,638 to 8,212) to 5,562 (5,135 to 5,858), and DALYs decreased from 303,443.10 (293,780 to 314,999) to 168,439 (159,412 to 177,770). The highest annual percentage change (APC) in the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was observed in Chile at 2.93%, followed by Japan at 1.7%, the Republic of Korea at 1.09%, Norway at 0.99%, Australia at 0.41%, France at 0.14%, and Sweden at 0.11% from 1990-2021. All observed age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) decreased. In 2021, Greece had the highest ASIR at 5.44 cases, followed by the highest ASMR at 0.73 cases per 100,000 person-years. In terms of age, the highest incidence of Hodgkin's lymphoma was observed in individuals aged 25-29 years, with 2,284 cases (2,153 to 2,405). The highest number of deaths occurred in the 70-74 age group with 675 (630 to 713), and the highest DALYs were in the 65-69 age group with 14,792 (13,956 to 15,644) in 2021. In terms of gender, males consistently showed a higher burden than females, with ASIRs of 1.84 for males and 1.25 for females, ASMRs of 0.33 for males and 0.20 for females, and age-standardized DALY rates of 12 for males and 7.5 for females per 100,000 in 2021.

In conclusion, while the gradual decline in mortality and DALYs associated with HL from 1990 to 2021 across OECD countries signals progress, the slight increase in prevalence underscores the ongoing challenge this disease presents to public health systems. Notably, the varied rates of change in age-standardized incidence across countries such as Chile, Japan, and Korea highlight the need for region-specific strategies to address the unique epidemiological and healthcare dynamics. The persistent higher burden observed in males compared to females suggests that targeted interventions might be required to address gender disparities effectively. To combat the burden of HL effectively, it is crucial to enhance early detection programs, improve access to optimal treatment regimens, and bolster healthcare infrastructures. Additionally, fostering international collaborations for research and sharing best practices can drive innovations in treatment and management, further reducing the global impact of this malignancy.

Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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2024
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