Global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-2019
Prof. Christopher Murray
Understanding the magnitude of the cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for the development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. Analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 found that globally in 2019 risk factors accounted for 4.45 million cancer deaths and 105 million DALYs, representing 44.4% of all cancer deaths and 42.0% of all DALYs. Leading risk factors for both sexes combined were smoking, follwed by alcohol use, and high BMI. The authors conclude that the leading risk factors contributing to the global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioral, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019.
