International burden of cancer deaths and years of life lost from cancer attributable to four major risk factors

A study published in the Lancet eClinical Medicine, and led by Harriet Rumgay, provides a comprehensive review of the impact of alcohol consumption and other risk factors on cancer mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) in seven countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The research gives an insight into how alcohol and other risk factors contribute to the worldwide burden of cancer.
The research team collected population attributable fractions for four risk factors (alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, excess body weight and human) from global population-based studies and applied these to estimates of cancer deaths in 2020 to obtain potentially preventable cancer deaths and their 95% confidence intervals (Cis). The researchers calculated the number and age-standardised rates of YLLs (ASYR).
In the seven countries, an estimated 5.9 million (3.3 million–8.6 million) YLLs from cancer were attributable to alcohol consumption, 20.8 million (17.0 million–24.6 million) YLLs to tobacco smoking, 3.1 million (2.4 million–3.8 million) YLLs to excess body weight, and 4.0 million (3.9 million–4.2 million) YLLs to HPV infection.
The ASYR from cancer due to alcohol consumption was highest in China (351.4 YLLs per 100,000 population [95% CI 194.5–519.2]) and lowest in the US (113.5 [69.6–157.1]) and India (115.4 [49.7–172.7). For tobacco smoking, China (1159.9 [950.6–1361.8]) had the highest ASYR followed by Russia (996.8 [831.0–1154.5). For excess body weight, Russia and the US had the highest ASYRs (385.1 [280.6–481.2] and 369.4 [299.6–433.6], respectively). The highest ASYR due to HPV infection was in South Africa (457.1 [453.3–462.6]). ASYRs for alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking were higher among men than women, whereas women had higher ASYRs for excess body weight and HPV infection.
This research highlights the critical yet preventable role of alcohol and other risk factors in global cancer rates. By focusing on reducing these risk factors, significant strides can be made in decreasing cancer incidence and mortality.
Source: Harriet Rumgay; et al. International burden of cancer deaths and years of life lost from cancer attributable to four major risk factors: a population-based study in Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and United States. eClinicalMedicine, ISSN: 2589-5370, Page: 102289 .