2,971 publications from this institution
Male workers in AFFH are at high risk of suicide mortality, and casual and fixed-term contract workers are at exceedingly high risk. Our study also suggests a higher risk among single, highly educated and long-hours workers. Female workers in AFFH do not have an appreciably increased risk.
A large body of evidence indicates that high intakes of fruit and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of cancer at several sites. The association is generally most marked for epithelial cancers, apparently stronger for those of the digestive and respiratory tracts, and somewhat weaker for hormone-related cancers. The relationship between frequency of consumption of vegetables and fruit and cancer risk was analysed using data from a series of case-control studies conducted in northern Italy since 1983. The relative risks (RRs) for most common neoplasms ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 for the highest compared with the lowest tertile of vegetable intake. Protective effects were highest for epithelial neoplasms, but were also observed for hormone-related neoplasms. Fruit was related to reduced RRs for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, larynx, as well as of the urinary tract. There was a specific and consistent pattern of protection by tomatoes, a typical Mediterranean food, with RRs between 0.4 and 0.7, most notably for gastrointestinal neoplasms. No significant association was observed between fruit and vegetable consumption and non-epithelial lymphoid neoplasms. For digestive tract cancer, population attributable risks for low intake of fresh vegetables and fruit ranged from 15 to 40% of all cases in this Mediterranean population. Combined with tobacco and alcohol, the population attributable risks exceeded 85% for men and 55% for women for upper digestive and respiratory tract neoplasms. Thus, from a public health viewpoint, epidemiological evidence indicates that a substantial reduction in epithelial cancer risk can be obtained by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.
Abstract Neoplasms are a group of diverse diseases with complex distributions in human populations and with different aetiological factors. Current knowledge of the causes of human neoplasms and the development of control strategies have led to the elaboration of lists of recommendations for their prevention. A comprehensive strategy for cancer control might lead to the avoidance of a sizeable proportion of human cancers, and the greatest benefit can be achieved via tobacco control. Nevertheless, neoplasms will continue to be a major source of human disease and death. Considerable efforts are made in the public and private domains to develop effective therapeutic approaches. Even if major discoveries in the clinical management of cancer patients will be accomplished in the near future, the changes will mainly affect the affluent part of the world population. Prevention of the known causes of cancer remains the most promising approach in reducing the consequences of cancer, in particular in countries with limited resources. Control of tobacco smoking and of smokeless tobacco products, reduced overweight and obesity, moderation in alcohol intake, increased physical activity, avoidance of exposure to solar radiation and control of known occupational carcinogens are the main approaches we currently have to reduce the burden of human neoplasms.
Abstract An increasing incidence, but also mortality, from colorectal cancer (CRC) in young adults, i.e. in more recent generations, has been reported in several high-income countries over the last decade. We updated trends in cancer mortality in 15 countries (plus the EU) and predicted the number of deaths and rates for 2026, with focus on CRC. We analysed mortality data from the WHO dataset at age 25–49 in the 15 most populous upper-middle and high-income countries providing valid data from 1990 to 2022 or the latest available year – plus the EU. We derived population estimates from the UN World Population Prospects database. We computed age-standardised mortality rates (ASMR, world standard) for all cancers combined and for the most common sites in young adults (colorectum, lung, pancreas and breast). For CRC, we also computed ASMR for the 30–39 age group. We compared the ASMRs around 2020 with those around 2010. We performed a Joinpoint regression on all cancers combined and on the most common sites, over the period 1990-2022. We predicted the number of deaths for 2026 based on a log-linear regression model applied on the most recent segment identified through Poisson Joinpoint regression. Around 2020, the highest overall cancers rates were in Latin America and Eastern Europe (over 35/100,000 females, 25/100,000 males), while the lowest ones were in the Republic of Korea, Canada, and Japan (below 20/100,100 in both sexes). Between 2010 and 2020, all countries showed declines in total cancer mortality (by 10% to above 25% in both sexes), except Mexico and Argentina for females. However, CRC mortality increased appreciably in the UK (by about 30%) and in Northern and most Latin America (by about 10%), though it declined in most Europe, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. When the analysis was restricted to the 30–39 age group, i.e. the generation born in the 1980’s, substantial increases in CRC mortality were observed over the last decade in the UK, North and Latin America, and Australia, and to a lesser extent in Europe and Japan. Mortality tended to decrease for pancreatic and to a greater extent for lung and breast cancer in most countries. Thus, overall cancer mortality in young adults declined in the countries considered. This is mainly due to tobacco control for lung - with substantial declines proportionally similar for both sexes - and pancreatic cancer, as well as for other tobacco-related neoplasms. Improved diagnosis and treatment had a key role on favourable trends of breast cancer and several other neoplasms common in young adults. However, CRC mortality in young adults increased in several, but not all, countries considered. The increase was proportionally greater at age 30-39, i.e. among the generation born in the 1980’s compared to that born in the late 1970’s. The rising CRC mortality rate can be due to the increased prevalence of overweight, obesity, and consequently diabetes, but other (dietary) factors may be involved. This therefore deserves continued attention. Citation Format: Carlo La Vecchia, Silvia Mignozzi, Claudia Santucci. Trends in cancer mortality in young adults in selected upper-middle and high-income countries with focus on colorectal cancer: an update to 2026. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: The Rise in Early-Onset Cancers—Knowledge Gaps and Research Opportunities; 2025 Dec 10-13; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(23_Suppl):Abstract nr IA003.
The impact of COVID-19 on mortality from specific causes of death remains poorly understood. This study analysed cause-of-death data provided by the World Health Organization from 2011 to 2019 to estimate excess deaths in 2020 in 30 countries. Over-dispersed Poisson regression models were used to estimate the number of deaths that would have been expected if the pandemic had not occurred, separately for men and women. The models included year and age categories to account for temporal trends and changes in size and age structure of the populations. Excess deaths were calculated by subtracting observed deaths from expected ones. Our analysis revealed significant excess deaths from ischemic heart diseases (IHD) (in 10 countries), cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) (in 10 countries), and diabetes (in 19 countries). The majority of countries experienced excess mortality greater than 10%, including Mexico (+ 38·8% for IHD, + 34·9% for diabetes), Guatemala (+ 30·0% for IHD, + 10·2% for CVD, + 39·7% for diabetes), Cuba (+ 18·8% for diabetes), Brazil (+ 12·9% for diabetes), the USA (+ 15·1% for diabetes), Slovenia (+ 33·8% for diabetes), Poland (+ 30·2% for IHD, + 19·5% for CVD, + 26 1% for diabetes), Estonia (+ 26·9% for CVD, + 34·7% for diabetes), Bulgaria (+ 22·8% for IHD, + 11·4% for diabetes), Spain (+ 19·7% for diabetes), Italy (+ 18·0% for diabetes), Lithuania (+ 17·6% for diabetes), Finland (+ 13·2% for diabetes) and Georgia (+ 10·7% for IHD, + 19·0% for diabetes). In 2020, 22 out of 30 countries had a significant increase in total mortality. Some of this excess was attributed to COVID-19, but a substantial increase was also observed in deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
The decline in gastric cancer mortality is a major achievement in cancer control. It has been attributed to a set of factors related to the improvement of the populations' living conditions, namely the increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables and the decrease in salt intake, and therefore labelled as an 'unplanned triumph'. In the last decades, however, we witnessed the gradual acceptance of Helicobacter pylori infection as the most important environmental factor contributing to the occurrence of gastric cancer. The potential for further reducing the burden of cancer by acting on a single modifiable exposure, that is, preventing or treating infection, and the extent to which it may be achieved, requires an in-depth knowledge of the contribution of H. pylori infection to the causal mechanisms leading to cancer. We propose a conceptual framework for the interpretation of the role of H. pylori infection in the web of gastric cancer causation, taking into account the nosological heterogeneity of gastric cancer, the induction period for the action of H. pylori infection and its potential role as a necessary component cause.
The relationship between methylxanthine (Mx) consumption and benign breast disease was evaluated in a case-control study of 288 women with histologically confirmed benign breast lumps (203 dysplastic lesions and 85 benign tumors) and 2 groups of control women--285 patients in the hospital for acute conditions apparently unrelated to the consumption of Mx-containing beverages and 291 outpatients. The relative risk estimates of dysplastic breast lesions (fibrocystic disease), with allowance for all identified potential distorting factors, for women who drank 1-2 or 3 or more cups of coffee per day were 4.1 and 6.4, respectively, when the hospital controls were the comparison group and 2.0 and 3.7, respectively, when the outpatient controls were the comparison group. The relationship was even stronger when the total consumption of Mx-containing beverages (coffee plus tea) was considered and increased with increasing duration of use. The association was not explained by any of the major risk factors for fibrocystic breast diseases or by differences in general characteristics or other lifestyle habits between cases and controls. Mx consumption was not related to the risk of benign breast tumors (fibroadenomas). These findings support the hypothesis that Mx consumption is related to the risk of dysplastic lesions of the breast.
