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. 2020 Feb:6:195-204.
doi: 10.1200/JGO.19.00239.

Attributable Causes of Cancer in Vietnam

Thuy Phuong Nguyen  1 , Hung N Luu  2   3 , Mai Vu Tuyet Nguyen  4 , Mo Thi Tran  4 , Thuy Thi Van Tuong  4 , Chi Thi Du Tran  4 , Paolo Boffetta  5   6
Affiliations

Attributable Causes of Cancer in Vietnam

Thuy Phuong Nguyen et al. JCO Glob Oncol. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: Vietnam is undergoing rapid socio-economic transition with an increasing cancer burden. The contribution of modifiable risk factors to cancers in Vietnam has not been studied. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the attributable causes of cancer in Vietnam.

Methods: We reviewed the data on burden of cancer in Vietnam from 2 cancer registries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City between 1995 and 2012. Next, we calculated the fractions of cancers occurring in 2018 attributable to established modifiable risk factors whose impact could be quantified. Data on exposure prevalence were obtained for the period from 2000 to 2010 from national sources wherever possible.

Results: Cancer incidence in Vietnam has decreased slightly in both sexes. Cancer related to infectious agents decreased sharply, whereas cancer related to nutrition and metabolism has increased. In 2018, established carcinogens included in the analysis explained 47.0% of cancer burden in Vietnam. Chronic infections accounted for 29.1% of cancers (34.7% in men and 22.1% in women), tobacco smoking for 13.5% (23.9% in men and 0.8% in women), and alcohol drinking for 10.3%. Passive smoking was responsible for 8.8% of cancers in women. Other risk factors, including overweight or obesity, nulliparity, and low vegetable and fruit intake, accounted for < 1% of all cancers each.

Conclusion: Cancer incidence is slowly decreasing in Vietnam, and the causes of more than half of cancers remain unexplained. This result underlines the need for further epidemiologic and fundamental research. Our findings confirm the notion that controlling oncogenic infections and decreasing tobacco smoking are the most effective approaches to reduce the burden of cancer in Vietnam, but other risk factors, including alcohol drinking and diet, should not be neglected.

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Conflict of interest statement

The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated unless otherwise noted. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or ascopubs.org/go/site/misc/authors.html.

Open Payments is a public database containing information reported by companies about payments made to US-licensed physicians (Open Payments).

No potential conflicts of interest were reported.

Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
(A) Incidence rates (per 100,000) of specific cancers in men in 2008-2012 and 1995-1998 in Ho Chi Minh City. (B) Incidence rates (per 100,000) of specific cancers in women in 2008-2012 and 1995-1998 in Ho Chi Minh City.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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