<p>The rates of liver cancer around the world are increasing, especially among older adults, despite advances aimed at preventing the disease, according to a study.</p>.<p>To obtain trends and estimates of liver cancer by age, sex, region, and cause, researchers from Fudan University in China examined 1990-2017 data from the Global Burden of Disease Study pertaining to 195 countries and territories.</p>.<p>Globally, liver cancer cases diagnosed before the age of 30 years decreased from 17,381 in 1990 to 14,661 in 2017, according to the study published in the journal CANCER.</p>.<p>However, the rates increased in people aged 30-59 years and 60 years and older from 216,561 and 241,189 in 1990 to 359,770 and 578,344 in 2017, respectively, the researchers said.</p>.<p>When applying age adjustments, the team found that the incidences of liver cancer diagnosed before the age of 30 years and from 30-59 years decreased in both sexes, whereas in older adults, rates increased in males and remained stable in females.</p>.<p>Compared with women, men had a more dramatic increase in liver cancer diagnosed at aged 60 years and older and a milder decrease in cases diagnosed at 30-59 years, the researchers said.</p>.<p>Decreases seen in younger adults were largely ascribed to hepatitis B vaccinations -- since the hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer -- and were consistent in most regions except in developed countries, in which liver cancer rates increased irrespective of sex and age, they said.</p>.<p>The study found that liver cancer caused by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or buildup of fat in the liver, increased by the greatest magnitude in most regions.</p>.<p>"Our findings suggest the lack of attention for older people in current liver cancer prevention efforts and highlight the emerging concern of obesity as a risk factor for liver cancer," said Xingdong Chen from Fudan University.</p>.<p>"Liver cancer prevention strategies in both developing and developed countries should be tailored and updated," Chen said.</p>
<p>The rates of liver cancer around the world are increasing, especially among older adults, despite advances aimed at preventing the disease, according to a study.</p>.<p>To obtain trends and estimates of liver cancer by age, sex, region, and cause, researchers from Fudan University in China examined 1990-2017 data from the Global Burden of Disease Study pertaining to 195 countries and territories.</p>.<p>Globally, liver cancer cases diagnosed before the age of 30 years decreased from 17,381 in 1990 to 14,661 in 2017, according to the study published in the journal CANCER.</p>.<p>However, the rates increased in people aged 30-59 years and 60 years and older from 216,561 and 241,189 in 1990 to 359,770 and 578,344 in 2017, respectively, the researchers said.</p>.<p>When applying age adjustments, the team found that the incidences of liver cancer diagnosed before the age of 30 years and from 30-59 years decreased in both sexes, whereas in older adults, rates increased in males and remained stable in females.</p>.<p>Compared with women, men had a more dramatic increase in liver cancer diagnosed at aged 60 years and older and a milder decrease in cases diagnosed at 30-59 years, the researchers said.</p>.<p>Decreases seen in younger adults were largely ascribed to hepatitis B vaccinations -- since the hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer -- and were consistent in most regions except in developed countries, in which liver cancer rates increased irrespective of sex and age, they said.</p>.<p>The study found that liver cancer caused by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or buildup of fat in the liver, increased by the greatest magnitude in most regions.</p>.<p>"Our findings suggest the lack of attention for older people in current liver cancer prevention efforts and highlight the emerging concern of obesity as a risk factor for liver cancer," said Xingdong Chen from Fudan University.</p>.<p>"Liver cancer prevention strategies in both developing and developed countries should be tailored and updated," Chen said.</p>