Ten-year epidemiological trends and public health implications of pediatric Retinoblastoma in Saudi Arabia
TL;DR
Strengthening national surveillance systems and implementing targeted early screening strategies may facilitate timely diagnosis and align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for improving pediatric cancer outcomes.
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common intraocular malignancy in children. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, its incidence in Saudi Arabia appears to have remained stable. This study aimed to evaluate epidemiological trends and age-specific incidence rates of RB among children aged 0–14 years in Saudi Arabia over a ten-year period, with the goal of informing and proposing recommendations. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using national data from the Saudi Cancer Registry. All confirmed RB cases diagnosed in children aged 0–14 years between 2013 and 2022 were included. Annual population estimates were obtained from the General Authority for Statistics to calculate incidence rates per 100,000 children. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, and Poisson log-linear regression to assess associations between age, sex, and temporal trends. A total of 291 RB cases were identified during the study period, with the majority occurring in children aged 0–4 years (86.6%). The mean annual incidence rate was 0.38 per 100,000 children (SD ± 0.07). No statistically significant difference was observed between males (51.5%) and females (48.5%) (IRR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.71–1.09; p = 0.259). Age-specific incidence was highest in the 0–4 age group (9.96 per 100,000; 95% CI: 8.91–11.14) and declined significantly with increasing age (p < 0.001). Although minor annual fluctuations were observed, no statistically significant temporal trend was identified (IRR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.98–1.05; p = 0.410), indicating an overall stable incidence pattern. RB incidence in Saudi Arabia has remained stable over the past decade, with a marked concentration in early childhood. Strengthening national surveillance systems and implementing targeted early screening strategies may facilitate timely diagnosis and align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for improving pediatric cancer outcomes.