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Review
. 2021 Jul;12(Suppl 2):S387-S398.
doi: 10.21037/jgo-2019-gi-06.

Implications of the growing incidence of global colorectal cancer

Benjamin W Vabi  1 , John F Gibbs  2 , Glenn S Parker  2
Affiliations
Review

Implications of the growing incidence of global colorectal cancer

Benjamin W Vabi et al. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

The expanding worldwide burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant public health issue. Understanding the shift in the geo-demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and biogenetic distribution of CRC is paramount. The Human Development Index (HDI) measuring life expectancy, education, and gross national income is a composite index comparing health outcomes between countries. This has been shown to be a useful comparison tool in measuring the health dimension among high, middle, and low-income countries. CRC has a wide global distribution in incidence and mortality with majority of cases occurring in countries with a high or very high HDI. However, in developing countries and in those undergoing rapid socioeconomic growth, there has also been a marked rise in CRC rates as well. This pattern is noted globally and seems to correlate with increase in a country's specific HDI. Additionally, another unique pattern of CRC incidence has emerged with more cancers being diagnosed in adults younger than 50 years old. Further investigation is needed to determine CRC risks reduction and implementation of primary prevention and early detection strategies within different country specific healthcare systems. Globally, improvement in healthcare equality, access to medical care and screening for CRC particularly in resource-limited (low HDI) countries is essential.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer (CRC); Human Development Index (HDI); global.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jgo-2019-gi-06). The series “Global GI Malignancies” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. John F Gibbs served as the unpaid Guest Editor of the series and serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology from Jan 2019 to Dec 2020. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Estimated number of incidence cases and deaths from CRC among both sexes and all ages; 2018–2040. Data source: Globocan 2018. Global cancer observatory. http://gco.larc.fr
Figure 2
Figure 2
Worldwide age-standardized rates for CRC are in descending order world. Bar Chart of Region-Specific Incidence Age-Standardized Rates by Sex for Cancers of the (A) Colon and (B) Rectum in 2018. Rates for cancers of the colon and rectum are shown in descending order of the world (W) age-standardized rate among men, and the highest national rates among men and women are superimposed. Source: GLOBOCAN 2018.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Worldwide estimated crude CRC incidence and mortality rates, both sexes in 2018. Source: Worldwide CRC incidence and mortality rates (age adjusted according to the world standard population, per 100 000) in both sexes in 2018 (GLOBOCAN 2018).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Trends in Colorectal Cancer Incidence (1975-2013) and Mortality (1970-2014) Rates by Age and Sex, Unite State. Data source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, National Cancer Institute, 2017. Rates are adjusted for delays in reporting and are plotted as a 2-year moving average.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Estimated number of incident cases of CRC, both sexes, all ages according to country resource level. Data source: Globocan 2018. Global cancer observatory. http://gco.larc.fr
Figure 6
Figure 6
Trends in Age-Standardized Incidence and Mortality Rates of CRC in Men, Selected Countries by income level, 1980–2010. (Produced with permission: Bray F, Soerjomataram I. The Changing Global Burden of Cancer: Transitions in Human Development and Implications for Cancer Prevention and Control. doi: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0349-9_ch2)
Figure 7
Figure 7
Fraction (%) of all CRC cases between both sexes (worldwide) in 2012 attributable to excess body mass index.
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References

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