Author Interviews, BMJ, Colon Cancer, Gastrointestinal Disease, Global Health / 31.01.2016
Colon Cancer Rising In Transitional Economies
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Melina Arnold
Section of Cancer Surveillance
International Agency for Research on Cancer
Lyon, France
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Arnold: In this study, we looked at patterns and time trends in the incidence in and mortality from colorectal cancer on the global scale. In the analyses, we used data from the Globocan database, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, both hosted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the World Health Organisation mortality database. We documented a ten-fold variation in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates worldwide. We also found distinct gradients across human development levels, meaning that changes in patterns and trends of this cancer could be linked to economic development and that the adoption of a Western lifestyle may have a role. While incidence and mortality rates are on the increase in many countries in socioeconomic transition, stabilizing or decreasing trends are seen in highly-developed countries where rates remain among the highest in the world. These observations point to widening disparities and an increasing burden in transitioning countries.
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