Global increase of colorectal cancer in young adults over the last 30 years: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Abstract Objectives The US Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended starting age for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in average‐risk adults from 50 to 45 years. We aimed to estimate the global burden and trends of colorectal cancer in adults aged 20–49 years (early‐onset CRC). Methods This is an analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019). The GBD 2019 estimation methods were used to describe the incidence, mortality, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) of early CRC from 1990 to 2019. Data from 204 countries and geographic areas were available. Results The global incidence rate of early‐onset CRC increased from 4.2/100 000 to 6.7/100 000 from 1990 to 2019. Mortality and DALYs of early‐onset CRC also increased. The CRC incidence rate increased faster in younger adults (1.6%) than in adults aged 50–74 years (0.6%) as measured by the annual percentage change. The increase in early‐onset CRC incidence was consistently observed in all five socio‐demographic index (SDI) regions and 190 out of 204 countries and territories. Middle and high‐middle SDI regions had faster annual increases in early‐onset CRC, which warrants further attention. Conclusions The global incidence, mortality, and DALYs of early‐onset CRC increased from 1990 to 2019. The increase in early‐onset CRC incidence was prevalent worldwide. Several countries were found to have higher incidence rates than the United States or fast increase in early‐onset CRC, which warrants further attention.