Global Cancer Deaths Projected to Rise by 75% by 2050
Global Cancer Deaths Projected to Rise by 75% by 2050
————————————–
A comprehensive analysis by the Global Burden of Disease Study Cancer Collaborators projects that global cancer deaths will increase by approximately 75% by 2050, reaching an estimated 18.6 million deaths annually, up from 10.4 million in 2023, an article on Earth.com revealed. This surge is primarily attributed to an aging and growing global population, with more than half of the new cases and about two-thirds of the deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
The study highlights that while age-standardized cancer death rates have decreased globally by 24% between 1990 and 2023, improvements have been uneven. Higher-income countries have seen more significant declines, whereas low-income and lower-middle-income countries have experienced increases in age-standardized incidence rates by 24% and 29%, respectively.
Behavioral risk factors are a significant contributor to cancer mortality. In 2023, 42% of cancer deaths, approximately 4.3 million, were linked to known, potentially modifiable risk factors. Tobacco use alone accounted for 21% of cancer deaths globally. Other significant risk factors include unhealthy diets, high alcohol consumption, workplace exposures, and air pollution.
Experts emphasize the importance of targeted prevention strategies to mitigate the projected increase in cancer-related deaths. Addressing these modifiable risk factors through public health initiatives and policy interventions could substantially reduce the global cancer burden.
