The number of people who develop or die from liver cancer worldwide will increase by more than 55% by 2040 unless action is taken to combat this often preventable disease, researchers estimated Thursday.
Some 905,700 people were diagnosed with liver cancer and 830,200 died from the disease worldwide in 2020, according to a new analysis by scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Organization of Health based in Lyon.
At the current rate, 1.4 million people will be diagnosed and 1.3 million will die from liver cancer by 2040, according to the analysis.
That would represent an increase of about 500,000 in both the number of cases and the number of deaths per year, “unless we achieve a substantial decrease in liver cancer rates through primary prevention,” said the epidemiologist at the IARC Harriet Rumgay, lead author of the study. the study published in the Journal of Hepatology.
One of the leading causes of death in the world
This research also revealed that liver cancer is one of the top three causes of cancer death in 46 countries, and is among the top five in almost 100 countries. The number of cases and deaths is highest in East and Southeast Asia, as well as North Africa.
“This cancer is largely preventable if control efforts are made; the main risk factors are hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol consumption, excess weight and metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes,” study co-author Isabelle Soerjomataram said in a statement. statement.
The study’s dire prediction illustrates the need to accelerate progress in tackling hepatitis B and C, which have been slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the researchers said, calling for more vaccines, tests and treatments.
Harriet Rumgay also advocated “measures aimed at reducing the population’s alcohol consumption and curbing the rise in the prevalence of diabetes and obesity.”
Source: BFM TV
