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Comparative Study
. 2024 Dec;39(6):921-931.
doi: 10.3803/EnM.2024.2071. Epub 2024 Nov 28.

Comparison of Population Attributable Fractions of Cancer Incidence and Mortality Linked to Excess Body Weight in Korea from 2015 to 2030

Youjin Hong  1   2   3 , Jihye An  4 , Jeehi Jung  5 , Hyeon Sook Lee  6 , Soseul Sung  1   3   7 , Sungji Moon  1   3   8 , Inah Kim  9 , Jung Eun Lee  10 , Aesun Shin  1   2   3   8 , Sun Ha Jee  11 , Sun-Seog Kweon  12 , Min-Ho Shin  12 , Sangmin Park  2   13 , Seung-Ho Ryu  14 , Sun Young Yang  15 , Seung Ho Choi  15 , Jeongseon Kim  16 , Sang-Wook Yi  17 , Yoon-Jung Choi  16 , Sangjun Lee  1   2   3 , Woojin Lim  1   3   7 , Kyungsik Kim  1   3 , Sohee Park  11 , Jeong-Soo Im  18 , Hong Gwan Seo  16   18 , Kwang-Pil Ko  1   19 , Sue K Park  1   2   3
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of Population Attributable Fractions of Cancer Incidence and Mortality Linked to Excess Body Weight in Korea from 2015 to 2030

Youjin Hong et al. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Backgruound: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs.

Methods: Levin's formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used.

Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030.

Conclusion: The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Keywords: Body mass index; Excess body weight; Population attributable fractions; Prevalence rates.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Comparison of cancer population attributable fraction (PAF, %) attributed to excess body weight (EBW) when using different criteria (A: men, B: women, C: total population). MPL, mouth, pharynx, and larynx; WHO, World Health Organization.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Population attributable fraction (PAF, %) of cancer cases and deaths of excess body weight (EBW) for cancer cases and deaths from 2015 to 2030. (A) All cancer cases and death. (B) Specific cancer cases in men. (C) Specific cancer death in men. (D) Specific cancer cases in women. (E) Specific cancer death in women.
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