Brain tumors: rise in Glioblastoma incidence in England 1995-2015 suggests adverse environmental or lifestyle factor

Abstract

Overview

The study focuses on investigating the rising incidence of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), a type of malignant brain tumour, in England over the period from 1995 to 2015. This study emphasizes the need to explore environmental or lifestyle factors as potential drivers behind the increasing trends.

Methods

• Utilization of UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) data.
• Coverage of 81,135 ICD10 C71 brain tumours diagnosed in this period.
• Calculation of incidence rates (ASR) per 100k person-years, age-standardised to the European Standard Population (ESP-2013).

Findings

A pronounced and statistically significant rise in ASR for GBM across all ages was observed, with ASR more than doubling from 2.4 to 5.0. Annual case numbers also showed a significant increase from 983 to 2531. This increase primarily involves high-grade tumours, overshadowing the decreases in lower-grade tumours.

Conclusion

The findings are crucial for planning clinical resources and understanding the aetiology of brain tumours. The specific pattern of increased incidence in certain areas of the brain and for GBM alone points to potential widespread environmental or lifestyle impacts. Further research is encouraged to explore these connections.