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Common Risk Factors in Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Narrative Review
Hossein Akhondi1, Ehsan Allah Kalteh1, Mohammad Hassan Lotfi2
1Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Summary
Gastrointestinal cancers are rising globally due to factors like poor diet, inactivity, and smoking. Addressing these modifiable risks is key to reducing cancer burden and improving health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers represent a major global health burden, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality.
- Despite medical advancements, the incidence of GI cancers continues to increase, driven by a complex interplay of risk factors.
- Understanding these multifaceted risk factors is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and synthesize key risk factors contributing to the development and progression of gastrointestinal cancers.
- To highlight the interactions among lifestyle, environmental, genetic, and socioeconomic factors in GI cancer etiology.
- To inform public health interventions, policymaking, and health education initiatives for GI cancer prevention.
Main Methods:
- This study employed a narrative review methodology.
- Key risk factors were identified and synthesized from existing literature.
- The review focused on factors including diet, physical activity, obesity, smoking, alcohol, infections, environmental pollution, stress, and socioeconomic status.
Main Results:
- Identified key risk factors for GI cancers include unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, infections (e.g., Helicobacter pylori), environmental pollution, chronic stress, and socioeconomic disparities.
- Emphasized the synergistic interaction among these diverse risk factors in the development and progression of GI cancer.
- Highlighted the critical role of early detection and tailored public health interventions.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach addressing modifiable risk factors is essential to reduce the global burden of GI cancers.
- Lifestyle modifications and targeted public health strategies can significantly improve long-term health outcomes.
- Understanding the interconnectedness of risk factors provides critical insights for effective prevention and policy development.
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