Elham Goodarzi - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Zaher Khazaei - Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
Mojtaba Khazaei - Assistant Professor of neurology Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Background and Aim: Brain cancer is one of the rare and deadly malignancies with a low survival rate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the epidemiology of brain cancer and its relation to the human development index (HDI) worldwide. Materials and Methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical study that extracts data on cancer incidence and cancer mortality from the World Bank for Cancer in ۲۰۱۸. The incidence, mortality rates, and brain cancer distribution maps were drawn for different countries. We used correlation and regression tests to examine the association between the incidence and mortality with HDI. The statistical analysis was carried out by Stata-۱۴ and the significance level was estimated at the level of ۰.۰۵. Results: According to the results of the ۲۰۱۸ Global Cancer Registry, ۱۸۰۷۸۹۵۷ cases of both sexes were registered, of which ۲۹۶۸۱ were brain cancers. The highest incidence (۱۰۲۲۶۰ cases, ۳۴.۴%) and mortality (۷۷۸۱۵ cases, ۳۲.۳%) were related to very high HDI regions. Results showed a significant positive correlation between incidence (R = ۰.۶۹۰, P <۰.۰۰۰۱). ) and mortality (R = ۰.۶۲۹, P <۰.۰۰۱) for brain cancer with HDI. We also observed a positive correlation between brain cancer incidence and gross national income (GNI) (r = ۰.۳۴۶, P <۰.۰۰۱), MYS (r = ۰.۶۴, P <۰.۰۰۱), life expectancy at birth (LEB) (r = ۰.۶۶, P <۰.۰۰۱) and EYS (r = ۰.۶۶۷, P<۰.۰۰۱). Results also showed a significant positive correlation between mortality rate with GNI (r = ۰.۲۸, P <۰.۰۱), MYS (r = ۰.۵۹۱, P <۰.۰۱), LEB (r = ۰.۶۲۴, P <۰.۰۱), and EYS (r = ۰.۶۰۵, P <۰.۰۱). Conclusion: Given that there is a positive association between the incidence and mortality of brain cancer and HDI, identifying risk factors and applying preventive strategies in countries with higher HDI levels can be effective in reducing the incidence and mortality rates.

Brain cancer, Human development index, Incidence, Mortality, World