Abstract
Background: The population attributable risk (PAR) is a statistic commonly used for quantifying preventability of cancer. We report here PAR estimates for the United Kingdom (UK) along with its constituent countries for up-to-date risk factor-attributable colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC), focusing on diet and nutrition related factors and tobacco (CRC) using representative national surveys. Methods: The PAR was calculated using established, modifiable risk factors by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR): physical activity, body mass index (BMI), alcoholic drinks, red meat, processed meat, dietary fiber, dietary calcium, as well as cigarette smoking for CRC, and physical activity, BMI, alcoholic drinks, and fruits and vegetable consumption for BC. National prevalence estimates and relative risks (RRs) for CRC and BC were obtained from meta-analyses or large pooled analyses. Results: Based on eight dietary and lifestyle risk factors, the estimates for attributable cases of CRC for males and females, respectively, were as follows: England: 67% and 60%; Scotland: 68% and 59%, Wales: 66% and 61%; Northern Ireland: 67% and 61%; and UK: 67% and 60%. Excluding smoking, the PAR for the UK was 61% for men and 52% for women. Based on four dietary and lifestyle risk factors, the estimates for BC were as follows: England: 26%, Scotland: 27%; Wales: 25%; Northern Ireland: 26%; and UK: 27%. Conclusion: Up to 67% for CRC and 27% of BC were attributable to modifiable dietary and lifestyle factors in the UK. Moderate differences in PAR are observed between countries due to different prevalence of exposure to risk factors.
Highlights
The population attributable risk (PAR) is a metric commonly utilized to quantify the preventability of a specific disease
We report here PAR estimates for the United Kingdom (UK) along with its constituent countries on the number of risk factor-attributable colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC), the two most common preventable cancers, excluding lung cancer, which is highly related to tobacco use
In addition to the seven factors that met this classification for CRC (body mass index (BMI), physical activity, alcoholic drinks, and intakes of dietary fiber, red meat, processed meat, and dietary calcium), we further included cigarette smoking, considered a causal factor for CRC based on the United States Surgeon General Report[11]
Summary
The population attributable risk (PAR) is a metric commonly utilized to quantify the preventability of a specific disease. The PAR is based on identifying relative risks (RRs) from the scientific literature and prevalence from suitable population sources for specific factors of interest. Methods: The PAR was calculated using established, modifiable risk factors by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR): physical activity, body mass index (BMI), alcoholic drinks, red meat, processed meat, dietary fiber, dietary calcium, as well as cigarette smoking for CRC, and physical activity, BMI, alcoholic drinks, and fruits and vegetable consumption for BC. Results: Based on eight dietary and lifestyle risk factors, the estimates for attributable cases of CRC for males and females, respectively, were as follows: England: 67% and 60%; Scotland: 68% and 59%, Wales: 66% and 61%; Northern Ireland: 67% and 61%; and UK: 67% and 60%. Moderate differences in PAR are observed between countries due to different prevalence of exposure to risk factors
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