Lifetime risk of respiratory system cancers across 185 countries: Global variation, socioeconomic inequalities, and ecological associations with air pollution

Global disparities in lifetime risk of lung cancer: links to socioeconomic development, smoking, and fine particulate matter from GLOBOCAN 2022

The findings suggest that socioeconomic and environmental factors may be associated with regional disparities in lung cancer burden and could offer insights for targeted prevention policies, including smoking control and air quality management.

Global landscape and temporal trends in lifetime risk of colorectal cancer in 185 countries: a population-based study

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This study was aimed at estimating regional and national variations in lifetime CRC risk worldwide. Methods: CRC data were extracted from GLOBOCAN 2022, including 185 countries, and population and all-cause mortality data were sourced from the United Nations. The world was divided into 20 geographical regions and categorized by Human Development Index (HDI). Lifetime CRC risk was estimated with the life table method, adjusted for multiple primary cancers. Results: In 2022, the lifetime risks of developing and dying from CRC were 2.69% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.68–2.70] and 1.39% (95% CI: 1.39–1.40), respectively. Men had a higher risk of colon cancer than rectal cancer, and higher CRC risk than women. Lifetime risk varied by region and HDI: regions with very high, high, moderate, and low HDI had incidence risks of 5.17%, 2.75%, 0.72%, and 0.57%, respectively, and mortality risks of 2.48%, 1.50%, 0.44%, and 0.41%, respectively. Australia/New Zealand had the highest incidence risk (7.41%, 95% CI: 7.30–7.52), and Northern Europe the highest mortality risk (3.28%, 95% CI: 3.24–3.32). Risks were stable before 40 years of age, peaked in middle age, and declined after 70 years of age. Temporally, Thailand had the highest increasing trend in lifetime risk, whereas the United States and Austria showed a decreasing trend. Conclusions: Lifetime CRC risk differs by subtype, sex, HDI, and geography, and residual risk gradually decreases with age. Targeted primary prevention strategies should be implemented in various countries and regions to mitigate CRC burden.

Global patterns, temporal trends and socioeconomic inequalities in the burden of breast cancer: a population-based study across 185 countries

Lifetime risk of breast cancer disparities reveal the socioeconomic inequalities of breast cancer, and country-tailored intervention plans for breast cancer require prioritization within precision prevention to mitigate global breast cancer inequities and burden.

Cancer burden and health inequalities attributable to occupational arsenic exposure: A 32-year global, regional, and national observational study with projections to 2036

Focused interventions in low- and middle-SDI countries and rapidly industrializing regions are needed, including strengthened occupational exposure regulations, improved workplace arsenic monitoring, engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and regular health surveillance for workers in high-risk industries, to reduce inequalities and mitigate public health threats.

Global burden of respiratory infections and tuberculosis attributable to risk factors, 1990-2021: demographic and SDI analysis.

INTRODUCTION Respiratory infections and tuberculosis are leading causes of global morbidity and mortality; yet comprehensive research on their associated risk factors remains limited, hindering the development of effective preventive strategies. METHODOLOGY The 2021 Global Burden of Disease data from 204 countries (1990-2021) was used to measure deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and their age-standardized rates (ASMR and ASDR) tied to 9 risk factors. The trends were analyzed by age, gender, and socio-demographic index (SDI) regions, with annual and average annual percentage changes (APC, AAPC) used to track changes over time. RESULTS Globally, mortality rates (ASMR) for respiratory infections and tuberculosis linked to traditional risks-malnutrition, air pollution, and alcohol use-declined significantly; annual decreases of 4.46%, 3.18%, and 3.35%, respectively. Deaths attributed to metabolic risks like high BMI and blood sugar increased, despite falling ASMR. Geographic disparities were notable: Lesotho saw the sharpest rise in BMI-related mortality (3.92%), while Hungary had the steepest decline (-7.4%). Men faced a higher burden from behavioral risks, with tobacco-related mortality 3.6 times higher than in women. Children under 5 years were especially vulnerable to environmental risks, with unsafe water and sanitation contributing to a 4.55% annual decline in mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the need for targeted actions, such as tobacco control in high-middle SDI regions, air quality improvements in South Asia, and nutrition programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. It offers a precise public health framework to reduce respiratory infections and tuberculosis, and promote global health equity by analyzing sociodemographic and time trends.

Disparities in the global cancer burden attributable to modifiable risk factors: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.