Cancer Res Treat.  2019 Jul;51(3):933-940. 10.4143/crt.2018.301.

The Health Burden of Cancer Attributable to Obesity in Korea: A Population-Based Cohort Study

• Lee JE
• Nam CM
• Lee SG
• Park S
• Kim TH
• Park EC

• KMID: 2454285
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2018.301

Abstract

PURPOSE
Considering the health impact of obesity and cancer, it is important to estimate the burden of cancer attributable to high body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the present study attempts to measure the health burden of cancer attributable to excess BMI, according to cancer sites.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study used nationwide medical check-up sample cohort data (2002-2015). The study subjects were 496,390 individuals (268,944 men and 227,446 women). We first calculated hazard ratio (HR) in order to evaluate the effect of excess BMI on cancer incidence and mortality. Then, the adjusted HR values and the prevalence of excess BMI were used to calculate the population attributable risk. This study also used the Global Burden of Disease method, to examine the health burden of obesity-related cancers attributable to obesity.
RESULTS
The highest disability-adjusted life year (DALY) values attributable to overweight and obesity in men were shown in liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and gallbladder cancer. Among women, colorectal, ovarian, and breast (postmenopausal) cancers had the highest DALYs values attributable to overweight and obesity. Approximately 8.0% and 12.5% of cancer health burden (as measured by DALY values) among obesity-related cancers in men and women, respectively, can be prevented.
CONCLUSION
Obesity has added to the health burden of cancer. By measuring the proportion of cancer burden attributable to excess BMI, the current findings provide support for the importance of properly allocating healthcare resources and for developing cancer prevention strategies to reduce the future burden of cancer.

Keyword

Neoplasms; Obesity; Body mass index; Health burden; Disability-adjusted life years

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Breast
Cohort Studies*
Colorectal Neoplasms
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Gallbladder Neoplasms
Humans
Incidence
Korea*
Liver Neoplasms
Male
Methods
Mortality
Obesity*
Overweight
Prevalence

Reference

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