Estimates of Cancer Mortality Attributable to Carcinogenic Infections in Italy

Abstract

Several infectious agents are ascertained causes of cancer, but the burden of cancer mortality attributable to carcinogenic infections in Italy is still unknown. To tackle this issue, we calculated the rate and regional distribution of cancer deaths due to infections sustained by seven pathogens ranked as group 1 carcinogenic agents in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Population attributable fractions related to these agents were applied to annual statistics of cancer deaths coded according to the 10th International Classification of Diseases. The estimated burden of cancer mortality attributable to carcinogenic infections in Italy during the period 2011–2015 was 8.7% of all cancer deaths registered yearly, on average. Approximately 60% of deaths occurred in men, and almost the whole burden was due to four infectious agents (Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis C virus, high-risk human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B virus). The analysis of regional distribution showed a higher number of infection-related cancer deaths in the northern regions, where the estimates reached 30 (Liguria) and 28 (Friuli Venezia Giulia) deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015. Since one-twelfth of cancer deaths were attributable to these modifiable risk factors, the implementation of appropriate prevention and treatment interventions may help to reduce the impact of these infections on cancer mortality.

Association between Malnutrition and Depression in Patients with Cancer: The Importance of Nutritional Status Evaluation in Cancer Care

“…This also concerns the possibility of avoiding a significant impact on health care and systems, averting disease complications and resource consumption. Therefore, our findings might help clinicians to implement the most appropriate interventions and inform policymakers providing actionable evidence-based metrics which are essential to enhance cancer care [40,[46][47][48]. Furthermore, highlighting the association of depression with malnutrition, results from the presented study also remarked the clinical significance of a complete assessment of patients' mental health.…”

Advances in Population-Based Healthcare Research: From Measures to Evidence

“…Four carcinogenic infectious agents— Helicobacter pylori , hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types—were found to be responsible for the vast majority of this burden. Since one-twelfth of cancer deaths were attributable to risk factors which are both preventable and treatable, this research provided data that may inform policies and promote targeted interventions to reduce the impact of infections on cancer mortality [ 3 ].…”