Abstract
Simple SummaryLiving at moderate altitudes has been reported to be associated with health benefits, including reduced mortality from male colorectal and female breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate altitude-dependent incidence rates and to compare them with mortality rates of those cancers. We further explored whether altitude-associated differences in lifestyle behaviour exist. Analyses including all incidence cases and deaths over a 10-year observation period of an Alpine country (Austria) revealed that the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of male colorectal cancer decreased by 24.0% and 44.2%, and that of female breast cancer by 6.5% and 26.2%, from the lowest (<251 m) to the highest (1000–2000) altitude level. The population-based survey indicated higher physical activity levels and lower body mass index for both sexes living at a moderate altitude compared to those living below 251 m. These observations may, in certain cases, support decision making when changing residence.Background: Living at moderate altitude may be associated with health benefits, including reduced mortality from male colorectal and female breast cancer. We aimed to determine altitude-dependent incidence and mortality rates of those cancers and put them in the context of altitude-associated lifestyle differences. Methods: Incidence cases and deaths of male colorectal cancer (n = 17,712 and 7462) and female breast cancer (n = 33,803 and 9147) from altitude categories between 250 to about 2000 m were extracted from official Austrian registries across 10 years (2008–2017). Altitude-associated differences in health determinants were derived from the Austrian Health Interview Survey (2014). Results: The age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of male colorectal cancer decreased by 24.0% and 44.2%, and that of female breast cancer by 6.5% and 26.2%, respectively, from the lowest to the highest altitude level. Higher physical activity levels and lower body mass index for both sexes living at higher altitudes were found. Conclusions: Living at a moderate altitude was associated with a reduced incidence and (more pronounced) mortality from colorectal and breast cancer. Our results suggest a complex interaction between specific climate conditions and lifestyle behaviours. These observations may, in certain cases, support decision making when changing residence.
Highlights
Besides genetic and lifestyle factors, environmental conditions are relevant modulators of mortality and associated life expectancy [1,2,3,4,5]
The Age-standardized incidence (ASR-I) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASR-M) (95% confidence intervals) of male colorectal cancer decreased by 17.7% and 35.5%, respectively, from the lowest to the highest altitude level
Living at moderate altitude is associated with a pronounced reduction of ASR-I and ASR-M of male colorectal and female breast cancer, with a steeper decline of ASR-M than ASR-I and with a steeper decline of both rates for male colorectal cancer
Summary
Besides genetic and lifestyle factors, environmental (climate) conditions are relevant modulators of mortality and associated life expectancy [1,2,3,4,5]. Information was available neither on the altitude-related cancer incidence nor on the potential variation of lifestyle factors in the respective general population. We hypothesized that living at moderate altitude affects cancer incidence and mortality differently To investigate this possibility, we analysed altitude-dependent incidence rates of male colorectal and female breast cancer (as done in a previous study, in which we reported data from an earlier observation period) [8] and compared them to mortality rates of an Alpine country (Austria) where altitudes of residence range from below 200 m up to about 2000 m. Living at moderate altitude may be associated with health benefits, including reduced mortality from male colorectal and female breast cancer. Results: The age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of male colorectal cancer decreased by 24.0% and 44.2%, and that of female breast cancer by 6.5% and 26.2%, respectively, from the lowest to the highest altitude level. These observations may, in certain cases, support decision making when changing residence
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.