Estimation of cancer mortality attributable to excess body weight during 2006-2015 in China

Lisha Xu; Zongming Yang; Tiezheng Li; Luhua Yu; Zhanghang Zhu; Yonghao Wu; Mengling Tang; Mingjuan Jin; Kun Chen; Jianbing Wang

doi:10.1016/j.canep.2023.102358

Estimation of cancer mortality attributable to excess body weight during 2006-2015 in China

Cancer Epidemiol. 2023 Jun:84:102358. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2023.102358. Epub 2023 Apr 1.

Authors

Lisha Xu¹, Zongming Yang¹, Tiezheng Li¹, Luhua Yu¹, Zhanghang Zhu², Yonghao Wu¹, Mengling Tang³, Mingjuan Jin², Kun Chen⁴, Jianbing Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, and Department of Endocrinology of the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Children's Health, Hangzhou 310058, China.
² Department of Public Health, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
³ Department of Public Health, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
⁴ Department of Public Health, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: ck@zju.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Public Health, and Department of Endocrinology of the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Children's Health, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: wangjianbing@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 37011535
DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2023.102358

Abstract

Background: Cancer is one of the most common causes of death. Excess body weight (EBW), a risk factor for cancer, is highly prevalent in China. We aimed to estimate the number and proportion of cancer deaths attributed to EBW and their changes during 2006-2015 in China.

Methods: Population attributable fractions in 2006, 2010, and 2015 were calculated with 1) prevalence of overweight/obesity, exacted from the China Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in 8-9 provinces of China in 1997, 2000, and 2004; 2) relative risks for EBW and site-specific cancers, obtained from previous studies; 3) data on cancer deaths in 2006, 2010, and 2015, originated from the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report.

Results: In 2015, EBW contributed to 45,918 (3.1% of all) cancer deaths in China, with 24,978 (2.6%) in men and 20,940 (3.8%) in women. By region, the fraction of cancer deaths attributable to EBW ranged from 1.6% (West) to 4.1% (Northeast). Cancers of liver, stomach, and colorectum were the main EBW-attributable cancers. The fractions of cancer deaths attributable to EBW were 2.4% (95%CI: 0.8-4.2%) in 2006, 2.9% (95%CI: 1.0-5.2%) in 2010, and 3.1% (95%CI: 1.0-5.4%) in 2015, respectively, and increased for all gender, region, and cancer site during 2006-2015.

Conclusions: The proportion of cancer deaths attributed to EBW was higher in women and Northeastern China, with an upward trend in the recent decade. A combination of comprehensive and individualized measures is necessary to reduce the prevalence of EBW and related cancer burden in China.

Keywords: Cancer; Excess body weight; Mortality; Population attributable fraction.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Neoplasms*
Obesity* / complications
Obesity* / epidemiology
Overweight / complications
Overweight / epidemiology
Risk Factors
Weight Gain