A Multinational Assessment of Gastric, Esophageal, and Colorectal Cancer Burden: A Report of Disease Incidence, Prevalence, and Fatality.

Abstract

Digestive cancers, including colorectal, stomach, and esophageal cancer, represent one-third of all new cancer cases in the world. This comprehensive analysis seeks to summarize the burden of digestive system cancers on a global scale, within specific countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Burden is measured using prevalence, incidence, and case-fatality rates. Estimates of incidence rates and case-fatality ratios were further stratified by gender and age group (< 65 years and ≥ 65 years). In general, these data highlight differences in the prevalence and incidence of gastric, esophageal, and colorectal cancers by gender and region. Large variations in case-fatality rates by gender and age are also present. These data illustrate the worldwide burden of digestive diseases and may help guide resource allocation to decrease the impact of digestive cancers around the world.