Evolving Trends in Laryngeal Cancer Mortality in the United States, 1999-2024: A Population-Based Analysis With...

Laryngeal cancer (LC) represents one-third of all head and neck cancers, with global deaths rising by 36.7% between 1990 and 2021. Although mortality has declined over the past two decades, recent data indicate a potential slowdown in this progress. This study evaluated temporal trends in laryngeal cancer mortality in the United States.

LC mortality data from 1999 to 2024 were obtained from the CDC WONDER database. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population and annual percentage changes (APCs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Joinpoint regression analysis to assess temporal trends.

Between 1999 and 2024, 129,275 LC-related deaths were recorded in the United States. The overall age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) declined from 3.76 to 2.25 per 100,000, with a significant decrease from 1999-2016 (APC: -2.75%; 95% CI, -2.92 to -2.58; p < 0.001), followed by a non-significant change from 2016-2024 (APC: -0.38%; 95% CI, -0.87 to 0.11; p = 0.12). Mortality was consistently higher in males than females, declining from 7.00 to 3.94 and 1.40 to 0.85 per 100,000, respectively. In 1999-2020 analyses, NH-Black individuals had the highest mortality, followed by NH-American Indian or Alaska Native and NH-White populations, with significant declines across all racial/ethnic groups (p < 0.001). Highest state-level AAMRs were observed in Kentucky, West Virginia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and the District of Columbia (reported separately as a federal district). Mortality declined across all age groups and was consistently higher in non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas (all trend tests p < 0.05).

LC mortality in the United States has declined since 1999, but the rate of decline has slowed in recent years. Marked disparities persist by sex, race/ethnicity, age, and geographic region, with higher mortality in males, NH-Black individuals, older adults, and non-metropolitan areas. These findings underscore the need for continued surveillance and targeted interventions.