Global Burden of Female Cancers Attributable to Lifestyle Risk Factors: A 1990-2021 Analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study

Background: Cancer remains a leading cause of female mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. While lifestyle contributes to cancer causation, the extent of its burden on women across different populations remains unclear. Method: We conducted a study to investigate the role of six lifestyle factors—low physical activity, alcohol consumption, high fasting plasma glucose, dietary, tobacco, and high body-mass index (BMI)—in the cancer burden among women globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. Result: Research shows that disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASRs) linked to health risks like high BMI, alcohol, tobacco, and poor diet are higher in high-SDI regions. Eastern Europe has the highest DALYs from high BMI (9.9%) and unhealthy diets (10.4%). Australia leads in alcohol-related DALYs (3.7%) and mortality (3.1%), while high-income North America has the highest tobacco-related DALYs (18%) and mortality (18.2%). Female cancer mortality rises with age, especially among women aged 40-60, with breast cancer DALYs increasing significantly. These insights aid in targeted cancer prevention strategies. Conclusion: These findings highlight the critical role of lifestyle factors in shaping global cancer epidemiology among women, providing a basis for developing targeted preventive measures and public health policies to reduce the disease burden on women.