We evaluated global and regional burdens of, risk factors for, and epidemiologic trends in pancreatic cancer among groups of different sexes and ages. We used data from the GLOBOCAN database to estimate pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality in 184 countries. We examined the association between lifestyle and metabolic risk factors, extracted from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory database, and pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality by univariable and multivariable linear regression. We retrieved country-specific on age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence and mortalities from cancer registries from 48 countries through 2017 for trend analysis by joinpoint regression analysis. The highest incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer were in regions with very high (ASRs, 7.7 and 4.9) and high HDIs (ASRs, 6.9 and 4.6) in 2018. Countries with higher incidence and mortality were more likely to have higher prevalence of smoking, alcohol drinking, physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol. From 2008 to 2017, 2007 to 2016, or 2003 to 2012, depending on the availability of the data, there were increases in incidence among men and women in 14 (average annual percent changes [AAPCs], 8.85 to 0.41) and 17 (AAPCs, 6.04 to 0.87) countries, respectively. For mortality, the increase was observed in eight (AAPCs, 4.20 to 0.55) countries among men and 14 (AAPCs, 5.83 to 0.78) countries among women. While the incidence increased in 18 countries (AAPCs, 7.83 to 0.91) among individuals 50 years or older, an increasing trend in pancreatic cancer was also identified among individuals younger than 50 years and 40 years in eight (AAPCs, 8.75 to 2.82) and four (AAPCs, 11.07 to 8.31) countries, respectively. In an analysis of data from 48 countries, we found increasing incidence and mortality trends in pancreatic cancer, especially among women and populations 50 years or older, but also among younger individuals. More preventive efforts are recommended for these populations.

Worldwide, gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers, contributing to more than 1 million cases per year and 5.7% of all cancer diagnoses.^1,2 Its prognosis is poor as evidenced by the 5-year survival rate and because most cases are already metastatic when diagnosed.² The incidence of gastric cancer has wide geographic variation by up to 15- to 20-fold³ and is more commonly diagnosed in developed nations.³ High-risk regions include East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central and South America.⁴ According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, its incidence rate was significantly higher in countries with a high-middle Human Development Index (HDI) than in those with a low-middle HDI (20 vs 6.6 per 100 000 population).⁵

We studied incidence and mortality trends of colorectal cancer (CRC) in 39 countries according to age, sex, and anatomic location (colon vs rectum). We retrieved incidence data from registries from 36 countries. The registries included the following: Cancer Incidence in 5 Continents volumes I to XI; the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute; and the Nordic Cancer Registries from Europe. We obtained mortality data from 39 countries of the World Health Organization database. We evaluated average annual percentage changes in CRC incidence and mortality in the past decade using joinpoint regression analysis. From 2007 to 2016, 2006 to 2015, or 2005 to 2014, depending on the availability of the data, the incidence of colon cancer increased in 10 of 36 countries analyzed (all in Asia or Europe); India had the greatest increase, followed by Poland. All 10 of these countries have medium to high Human Development Index (HDI) scores. Six countries had a decrease in colon cancer incidence; these countries had the highest HDI scores; the United States had the greatest decrease, followed by Israel. Seven countries (including all countries from Northern America) had a decrease in incidence among persons older than 50 years. Eight countries had an increase in colon cancer incidence among persons younger than 50 years, including the United Kingdom and India. Countries with a decreased or stable incidence among persons 50 years or older but a significant increase in persons younger than 50 years, included Germany, Australia, the United States, Sweden, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Only Italy had a decrease in CRC incidence among persons younger than 50 years. Among women, 12 of 36 countries (all from Asia and Europe) had an increase in colon cancer incidence and 7 countries had a decrease; India had the greatest increase followed by Slovenia. Five of 36 countries had an increase in incidence of rectal cancer and 8 countries had a decrease; Ecuador and Thailand had the greatest increases in incidence. The incidence of rectal cancer among persons younger than 50 years increased significantly in Finland, Australia, Canada, the United States, and The Netherlands. Four countries had an increase in the incidence of rectal cancer in women; Ecuador had the greatest increase followed by Thailand. The incidence of rectal cancer in women decreased in 8 countries. Among women younger than 50 years, rectal cancer incidence increased, despite a decrease in women older than 50 years, in Costa Rica, Slovenia, Japan, Slovakia, Canada, and the United States there was an increase in incidence, although their elder population had a stable or decreased incidence. Twenty-four countries reported a reduction in CRC mortality, including North America, Oceania, and most European countries. Nevertheless, some countries from Asia, Latin America, and Southern Europe had significant increases in CRC mortality. In an analysis of incidence and mortality databases from 39 countries, we found that the incidence of colon and rectal cancers has continued to increase in countries with medium to high HDI and in younger populations. Preventive strategies are needed for countries with increasing CRC and rectal cancer incidence and mortality.

This study aimed to investigate the most updated worldwide incidence and mortality, risk factors, and epidemiologic trend of ovarian cancer in different countries, regions, and age groups. The Global Cancer Observatory database was used for incidence and mortality rates of ovarian cancer in 2020. Data from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents and the WHO mortality database was accessed for trend analysis. Age-standardized rates (ASRs, per 100,000 persons) were calculated for incidence and mortality. The 10-year annual average percent change (AAPC) was estimated by Joinpoint regression analysis. There was an overall decreasing trend of ovarian cancer, yet its burden has been increasing in lower-income countries and among younger females in some countries. Intensive lifestyle modifications are warranted, especially for the populations at high risk for ovarian cancer, including smoking cessation, alcohol use reduction, physical activity, weight control, and treatment of metabolic diseases.

We aimed to examine the global prevalences of central obesity according to age, sex, race, place of residence, geographical region, national income level, and the definitions of central obesity. MEDLINE and Embase were searched. Studies with sample size of ≥ 500 and investigated individuals aged ≥ 15 years were included. Metaprop (a Stata command) was adopted to conduct a meta-analysis of prevalence, and the Freeman-Tukey Double Arcsine Transformation was used to stabilize the variances. A random-effects model was used to evaluate the prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of central obesity. There were 288 studies involving 13,233,675 individuals in this analysis. The overall prevalence of central obesity was 41.5% (95% CI 39.9–43.2%). A higher prevalence was found in older individuals, female subjects, urban residents, Caucasians, and populations of higher income level countries. Regarding regional variations, the highest prevalence was found in Sothern America (55.1%, 95% CI 45.8–64.3%) and Central American (52.9%, 95% CI 32.7–72.7%). Its prevalence was rapidly rising from 1985 to 2014. From 1985–1999 to 2010–2014, younger subjects aged 15–40 years showed a more drastic rise in prevalence (16.3 to 33.9%) than subjects aged > 40 years (43.6 to 57.9%). Male individuals have a more drastic rise (25.3 to 41.6%) than females (38.6 to 49.7%). Major increasing in prevalence of the condition in the past three decades, particularly in certain subgroups. These findings could act as a useful reference to inform public health strategies to minimize the impact of central obesity on population health.