Senior and Middle-Aged Populations Face Increased Cancer Risks: ICMR Study
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Synopsis
A recent ICMR study highlights that older and middle-aged adults in India are at a significantly higher risk of developing and dying from cancer. The findings stress the urgent need for targeted interventions to combat the growing cancer burden in the country.
Key Takeaways
- The elderly (70+) have a cancer development risk of over 10%.
- Middle-aged individuals (15-49) face an 8.3% risk of developing cancer.
- Approximately 70% of cancer cases and deaths occur in older age groups.
- Three in five cancer patients in India may not survive.
- Breast cancer is the most prevalent, affecting 13.8% of new cases.
New Delhi, Feb 24 (NationPress) Older adults and middle-aged individuals are at a heightened risk of developing cancer, as well as succumbing to the illness in India, according to research conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The study, published in 'The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia', indicated that the elderly (aged 70 years and above) face the greatest risk of cancer development—over 10 percent—and a 7.7 percent risk of death from it.
For middle-aged adults (15-49 years), the risk of developing cancer stands at 8.3 percent, while the mortality rate from the disease is 5.5 percent.
The research team highlighted the importance of enhancing targeted interventions and strategies to address the growing cancer burden in India, noting that approximately 70 percent of cases and fatalities occur among middle-aged and older individuals.
The ICMR researchers predict that in the next two decades, India will face significant challenges in managing cancer-related deaths, with an annual increase of two percent in cases as the population ages.
Utilizing data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 and Global Health Observatory (GHO), the research team analyzed trends in 36 types of cancer across various age groups and genders in India over the last 20 years.
Alarmingly, the findings suggest that three out of five individuals diagnosed with cancer in India are likely to die from the disease.
Furthermore, the report revealed that the five most prevalent cancers collectively represent 44 percent of the cancer burden in India.
However, it was noted that women in India are facing a disproportionate burden, with breast cancer remaining the most common form of cancer. Breast cancer accounts for 13.8 percent of new cases among both genders, followed by cervical cancer at 9.2 percent.
