Global trends and projections of colorectal, esophageal and stomach cancer burden among youth associated with diet: A analysis of 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 and until 2040

• Published in: Translational oncology Vol. 46; p. 101984
• Main Authors: He, Ke‐Jie, Gong, Guoyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2024; Neoplasia Press; Elsevier
• Subjects: Death rate; Dietary risks; Disability-adjusted life years rate; Original Research; Socioeconomics; Young adults; Disability-adjusted life years rate; Death rate; Young adults; Socioeconomics; Dietary risks
• ISSN: 1936-5233; 1936-5233
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101984

•We analyzed 1990–2019 GBD data on mortality and DALYs for diet-related gastrointestinal cancers among 15–49 year olds in 204 countries.•Colorectal cancer burden was greatest, followed by esophageal and stomach cancers.•Cancer burden correlated with higher SDI, except esophageal cancer inversely. Lower SDI regions had lowest DALY rates; higher SDI regions had higher rates.•Males had significantly higher DALY rates than females for colorectal, esophageal and stomach cancers.•In 2019, considerable global dietary cancer burden inequalities emerged among youth/young adults. Highest DALYs in Bulgaria; lowest in Oman.•Our analyses show a rising global burden, greatest impact in high-middle/high SDI regions. Targeted interventions worldwide are key to curb this trend. Unhealthy diets significantly contribute to stomach, colorectal and esophageal cancer burden globally. Western diets high in processed and red meats promote carcinogenesis in these gastrointestinal cancers. However, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients' unique needs regarding these cancers have been neglected. Data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study was used to quantify stomach, colorectal and esophageal cancer burden among AYAs from 1990 to 2040 across 204 countries. Correlations between the burden of these cancers and the Socio-demographic Index were examined. High SDI locations experienced the largest reduction in cancer DALY rate change from 1990 to 2019 (-22% [-12 to -33]), compared to a small increase in low-middle SDI regions. Middle SDI areas saw the largest reduction in DALY rate change from 1990 to 2019 (-62% [-32 to -75]), compared to a small decrease in low-middle SDI locations (-9% [-27 to 10]) in esophageal cancer. From 1990–2019, stomach cancer deaths and DALYs declined across all SDI regions, with the largest reductions in high SDI locations (-61% [-57 to -69]) and smallest in low-middle SDI areas (-25% [-13 to -34]). Colorectal cancer deaths and DALYs rose across all SDI regions except high SDI locations, which showed a slight decrease. This study demonstrates the evolving global burden of stomach, colorectal and esophageal cancers among AYAs. The highest burden was in high-middle and high SDI regions, underscoring the need to prioritize initiatives targeting these gastrointestinal malignancies in youth.