Colon cancer mortality in Latin America

Colon cancer mortality in Latin America increased by 20.5% between 1990 and 2019, according to a study published by the Brazilian scientific research center Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz).

The results of the study conducted by Fiocruz, the National Cancer Institute of Brazil and the University of California San Diego warn of an upward trend in most Latin American countries, in contrast to the global trend.

The researchers found that “there is a relationship” between indexes mortality per bowel cancer and socioeconomic development of each country, as indicated by Fiocruz.

In this context, Latin American countries with a low index of human development (HDI) register lower mortality due to diseasebut mostly due to greater underdiagnosis and less exposure risk factorslike “consumption of ultra-processed foods and red meat.”

On the other hand, medium developed countries, as is the case with Brazilperform a “late” diagnosis and have difficulty applying treatment in an auspicious momentwhich reduces the chances of healing.

These nations also have larger exposure to the above risk factors.

On the contrary, the most developed countries have a more efficient diagnostic network and their own population have eating behaviors healthier.

In this sense, the increase in mortality from colon cancer in regionwhich is the most unequal on the planet, occurred in a heterogeneous manner, according to a report published in the scientific journal “Plos One”.

“It is interesting to note that inequality between countries is so pronounced that some, like Uruguay and Argentina, are moving towards a refuse mortality. And despite being tall consumption of red meatthey manage to diagnose and treat it in time,” explained Raphael Guimarães, one of the authors of the study.

However, in the countries of Central America The feeding factor has less influence, but there are high rates”insufficient diagnosis and little access to treatmenthe added.

The researchers recommend developing studies that analyze deeply socioeconomic context of each country specifically in order to assess the impact of the disease and be able to provide sufficient health care to reduce mortality.