Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer, including esophageal and gastric cancers, poses a significant health burden. While unhealthy dietary patterns are a recognized risk factor for UGI cancer, the complex interplay with psychological health that influences UGI cancer risk remains underexplored. The current study aimed to determine the association between dietary quality and UGI cancer, and the link with depression and anxiety symptoms.

Cross-sectional data were drawn from the baseline survey of the National Cohort of Esophageal Cancer study that was conducted between 2017 and 2019 in five high-risk regions of China. Dietary quality was evaluated using the Diet Balance Index (DBI)-16. Psychological symptoms were measured with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9. Eligible participants underwent endoscopy screening and suspicious cases were confirmed via pathologic biopsies.

A total of 434 UGI cancer cases were confirmed among 29,068 participants. Logistic regression models indicated that poor diet quality, reflected by an inadequate intake [low bound score (LBS)] and unbalanced diet [dietary quality distance (DQD)], was associated with psychological distress (e.g., LBS and anxiety: OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.19–1.56). UGI cancer participants had more severe psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety and UGI cancer: OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.14–1.26). Path analysis further revealed that psychological symptoms significantly mediate the relationship between poor dietary quality and UGI cancer risk; specifically, anxiety symptoms mediated 27.78% of the LBS-UGI cancer link.

The current study revealed a significant association between dietary quality and UGI cancer risk, suggesting that psychological symptoms may have a mediating role. Incorporating dietary and psychological health management into public health strategies is crucial for comprehensive cancer prevention.

This study was aimed at analyzing temporal trends in lung cancer mortality from 2013 to 2021, and projecting future trends until 2030.

Mortality data were extracted from the China Causes of Death Surveillance Dataset, which covers 2.37 billion person-years. Age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were calculated with Segi’s world standard population. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze temporal trends, and linear regression was applied to assess changes in mean age at death. A Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to project mortality trends through 2030. Contributions of risk factors and demographic changes (population size and age structure) to mortality trends were decomposed with the population split method.

From 2013 to 2021, the crude lung cancer mortality rate increased by 2.3% annually, whereas the ASMR remained stable overall but showed significant 2.9% annual declines during 2015 and 2021. The ASMRs in urban areas (−2.9% per year) and eastern regions (−1.5% per year) showed significant decreasing trends throughout the entire period. The mean age at death increased across all areas, and the largest increases were observed in rural areas. Deaths among people ≥65 years of age rose by 1.6%–5.6% during the entire period. Decomposition analysis indicated that the increased death counts were driven primarily by population aging (32%–43%) and population growth (8%–31%), whereas risk factors contributed negatively (−3% to −29%). Projections suggested that the number of lung cancer deaths will reach approximately 760,200 by 2030, with continued increases in the crude mortality rate but slight declines in the ASMR.

The lung cancer burden in China shows marked regional disparities and challenges due to population aging. To further decrease lung cancer deaths, optimized allocation of medical resources, strengthened prevention and control of lung cancer risk factors, and integration of effective policies will be required.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This study was aimed at estimating regional and national variations in lifetime CRC risk worldwide.

CRC data were extracted from GLOBOCAN 2022, including 185 countries, and population and all-cause mortality data were sourced from the United Nations. The world was divided into 20 geographical regions and categorized by Human Development Index (HDI). Lifetime CRC risk was estimated with the life table method, adjusted for multiple primary cancers.

In 2022, the lifetime risks of developing and dying from CRC were 2.69% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.68–2.70] and 1.39% (95% CI: 1.39–1.40), respectively. Men had a higher risk of colon cancer than rectal cancer, and higher CRC risk than women. Lifetime risk varied by region and HDI: regions with very high, high, moderate, and low HDI had incidence risks of 5.17%, 2.75%, 0.72%, and 0.57%, respectively, and mortality risks of 2.48%, 1.50%, 0.44%, and 0.41%, respectively. Australia/New Zealand had the highest incidence risk (7.41%, 95% CI: 7.30–7.52), and Northern Europe the highest mortality risk (3.28%, 95% CI: 3.24–3.32). Risks were stable before 40 years of age, peaked in middle age, and declined after 70 years of age. Temporally, Thailand had the highest increasing trend in lifetime risk, whereas the United States and Austria showed a decreasing trend.

Lifetime CRC risk differs by subtype, sex, HDI, and geography, and residual risk gradually decreases with age. Targeted primary prevention strategies should be implemented in various countries and regions to mitigate CRC burden.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Comparative assessments of breast cancer lifetime risks across populations are limited. This study estimated the global, regional, and national lifetime risks, temporal trends, and socioeconomic inequalities in the burden of breast cancer.

Using incidence and mortality data from GLOBOCAN 2022 (185 countries) and United Nations population and all-cause death data, lifetime risks were calculated using the adjusted for multiple primaries (AMP) method, which could adjust for multiple primary cancers, competing risks of other causes death, and life expectancy. Longitudinal data of breast cancer incidence from 2003–2017 were retrieved from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) Plus database. The temporal trends for breast cancer deaths were abstracted from the WHO Mortality Database. The lifetime risk of developing and dying from breast cancer were analyzed by socioeconomic characteristics, 20 predefined geographic regions and menopausal status.

The overall worldwide lifetime risk of developing and dying from breast cancer was 5.51% (95% CI: 5.50%–5.52%) and 1.82% (95% CI: 1.82%–1.83%) in 2022, respectively. The estimated lifetime risks of developing breast cancer had a positive relationship with Human Development Index (HDI) levels and corresponding risks of 10.37%, 4.42%, 2.96%, and 2.91% in very high, high, middle, and low HDI regions, respectively. Very high HDI regions presented the highest lifetime risk of breast cancer death (2.70%), followed by low HDI (1.70%), medium HDI (1.54%), and high (1.38%) HDI regions. A significant correlation was identified between lifetime risks and health economics capacity. The lifetime risk of developing and dying from breast cancer primarily involved individuals ≥ 55 years of age with remaining risks of 3.77% (developing) and 1.43% (dying) from 55 years to death. The proportion of lifetime risks among individuals 0–44 years of age was higher in Africa regions compared to other regions. In surveillance data from 36 countries, a significant increasing trend in the average annual percentage change (AAPC) was noted in 32 countries, which ranged from 0.17% in the United States to 5.84% in the Republic of Korea.

Globally, an estimated 1 in 18 individuals were diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and approximately 1 in 55 died from the disease in 2022. Lifetime risk of breast cancer disparities reveal the socioeconomic inequalities of breast cancer. Therefore, country-tailored intervention plans for breast cancer require prioritization within precision prevention to mitigate global breast cancer inequities and burden.