The burden of colorectal cancer in Iran during 1995-2019: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease study

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 MSc of health economics, Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of health economics, Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of surgery, Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor of health economics, Department of Health Economics and Management, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

10.22092/ari.2025.364578.2992

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. According to GLOBOCAN projections, the global burden of CRC is expected to affect approximately 3.2 million individuals by 2040. This study aims to evaluate the temporal trends in the burden of CRC in Iran by analyzing disability adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1995 to 2019. Data were retrospectively obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reports, published by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). The burden of CRC was assessed using DALYs, incidence, and prevalence rates, stratified by sex and age group over the study period. Statistical significance was determined using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test and t-tests at a 5% significance level. Between 1995 and 2019, CRC accounted for approximately 2.4 million DALYs in Iran, with males contributing 1,330,961 DALYs and females 1,095,938 DALYs. The incidence rate increased from 4.63 per 100,000 population during 1995–1999 to 10.85 per 100,000 during 2015–2019, while the prevalence rate rose from 19.32 to 49.45 per 100,000 population. Over the same period, a total of 94,188 CRC-related deaths were recorded, with a higher mortality rate observed among males compared to females. The findings demonstrate significant variations in CRC burden across different age and sex groups. CRC remains a major public health concern, with increasing incidence and prevalence. The majority of DALYs were attributable to years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature mortality, highlighting the critical need for early detection and preventive strategies.

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