The study examined 30 avoidable risk factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high body mass index, low physical activity, as well as exposure to polluted air and ultraviolet radiation.
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Experts note that in 2022, about 7.1 million new cancer cases, accounting for 37%, were linked to preventable factors. This underscores the enormous potential of preventive measures in the fight against the disease on a global scale.
The most significant preventable factor remains smoking, responsible for 15% of new cases. Infections rank second, causing 10% of newly diagnosed cases, while alcohol is third with 3% of cases.
Almost half of all preventable cancer cases are associated with three main types: lung cancer, stomach cancer, and cervical cancer.
The primary causes of lung cancer are smoking and air pollution, stomach cancer is often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer is linked to the human papillomavirus.
The study also revealed notable differences between men and women: among men, 45% of new cancer cases can be attributed to preventable factors, while among women, this figure is 30%.
For men, the main risk factors are smoking, infections, and alcohol, while for women, they are infections, smoking, and high body mass index.
Regional differences also play a significant role. The proportion of preventable cases among women ranges from 24% in North Africa and Western Asia to 38% in countries south of the Sahara. Among men, this figure varies from 28% in Latin America and the Caribbean to 57% in East Asia. These differences highlight the uneven impact of risk factors and variations in socio-economic development and health policy.
The authors of the study emphasize that effective prevention requires taking local conditions into account and developing strategies that include controlling the sale of tobacco and alcohol, vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B, improving air quality, ensuring safe working conditions, and creating opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity.
