부산대학교 도서관

Simple Summary: In 2020, more than 1.9 million cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) occurred, and almost 0.9 million patients died due to CRC throughout the world. There are differences in distribution and time variations in CRC between different countries. This diversity is mainly due to differences in risk factors among populations. CRC may be prevented by primary and secondary prevention methods. Primary prevention includes avoiding risk factors, e.g., alcohol consumption, and increasing protective factors, e.g., physical activity. The secondary prevention method, called CRC screening, consists of diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions of the colorectum. Although a large amount of evidence is available for different aspects of CRC, controversies remain regarding the most important factors and most effective control programs for CRC in different populations. In this review, we will present the most updated evidence regarding CRC's distribution, related factors, and preventive methods. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. There are disparities in the epidemiology of CRC across different populations, most probably due to differences in exposure to lifestyle and environmental factors related to CRC. Prevention is the most effective method for controlling CRC. Primary prevention includes determining and avoiding modifiable risk factors (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking, and dietary factors) as well as increasing protective factors (e.g., physical activity, aspirin). Further studies, especially randomized, controlled trials, are needed to clarify the association between CRC incidence and exposure to different risk factors or protective factors. Detection and removal of precancerous colorectal lesions is also an effective strategy for controlling CRC. Multiple factors, both at the individual and community levels (e.g., patient preferences, availability of screening modalities, costs, benefits, and adverse events), should be taken into account in designing and implementing CRC screening programs. Health policymakers should consider the best decision in identifying the starting age and selection of the most effective screening strategies for the target population. This review aims to present updated evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]