GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRENDS OF COLORECTAL CANCER: A SYNTHESIS OF CURRENT EVIDENCE

Abstract

Objectives. To synthesize recent epidemiological evidence regarding the global incidence, mortality, geographic and demographic distribution of colorectal cancer (CRC), with a focus on temporal trends, regional disparities, and the emerging phenomenon of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC).

Methods. A narrative review of the scientific literature was conducted using the international databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, supplemented by Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2019 and 2021) and GLOBOCAN (2020 and 2022) reports. Population-based studies, meta-analyses, and longitudinal analyses published between 2010 and 2026 were included.

Results. Between 1990 and 2021, the global number of new CRC cases increased by 139.39%, from approximately 916,580 to 2.194 million. The ASIR increased moderately, from 24.04 to 25.61 per 100,000 population. The number of EO-CRC cases among individuals younger than 50 years nearly doubled over the same period, from 107,300 to 211,900. Disparities by sex and region persisted, with the fastest increases occurring in regions undergoing epidemiological transition. Although the age-standardized mortality rate declined, the absolute number of deaths exceeded one million in 2021.

Conclusions. The global burden of colorectal cancer is rising, driven by demographic shifts and the expanding impact of EO-CRC. These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen screening programs, reconsider the starting age for early detection, and implement targeted public health strategies focusing on modifiable risk factors.