Evolution of the Incidence of Oral Cavity Cancers in the Elderly from 1990 to 2018

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the evolution of the incidence of oral cavity cancers (OCC) among elderly patients in France between 1990 and 2018 and to compare it to the incidence of other cancers sharing the same main risk factors. Material and Methods: The incidence of cancers in mainland France from 1990 to 2018 was estimated from incidence data observed in every cancer registry of the Francim network. Incidence was modeled by a 2-dimensional penalized spline of age and year of diagnosis, associated with a random effect corresponding to the registry. The elderly population was divided into two groups: 70–79 years old and ≥80 years old. Results: There was a 72% increase in the number of OCC cases in women over 70 years of age between the periods 1990–1999 and 2010–2018. As for men, there was a stabilization in the number of cases (+2%). Over the same period, for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, there was a decrease in incidence in elderly men and an increase in elderly women, although less marked than for OCC. Conclusions: Since the 1990s, the incidence of OCC has been increasing in elderly subjects in France, particularly in women. Population aging and growth or alcohol and tobacco consumption alone do not seem to explain this increase, which is not observed in the same proportions for other upper aerodigestive tract cancer subsites sharing the same main risk factors.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas and oral potentially malignant disorders: A Latin American study

“…Following recent findings, there would be other less-studied risk factors (Renou et al, 2023). Among them, oral dysbiosis, Candida spp and HPV infection, chronic mechanical irritation, oxidant diets and others (Gall et al, 2013;La Rosa et al, 2020;Piemonte et al, 2022;Sánchez et al, 2003) are accepted as non-canonical risk factors for OSCC.…”

“…This situation occurs in Denmark, probably associated with an increase in tobacco consumption among females (Diz et al., 2017). A recent study showed that since 1990, OSCC has been increasing in elderly subjects in France, particularly in women (72%) but alcohol and tobacco consumption alone does not seem to explain this increase (Renou et al., 2023). Figure 2 shows a case of OSCC‐dn in a young woman from Costa Rica without tobacco or alcohol consumption.…”

Comparison of the oral health status of nursing home residents using the current and the newly developed interRAI Oral Health Section (OHS-interRAI): a cross-sectional study

“…It is important to assess these mucosal tissues because they are more susceptible to the development of oral cancer, which is more commonly diagnosed in older adults. Early detection of suspicious mucosal lesions by caregivers is critical to avoid compromising general health and quality of life (34).…”

Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk Factors: State of the Art

“…While the overall incidence of HNSCC continues to decline worldwide, owing to decreased tobacco and alcohol consumption [10,11], oral tongue cancer incidence has been reported to be increasing in several countries [12][13][14]. Interestingly, HPV seems to be involved in only a minor subset of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity [15].…”