Summary
This narrative review synthesises the current global epidemiology of lung cancer, documenting substantial variation in incidence and mortality across regions driven by tobacco smoking patterns, environmental exposures (biomass fuels, asbestos, arsenic, radon), and genetic factors. The authors present evidence that low-dose CT screening reduces lung cancer mortality through earlier diagnosis and treatment, and review the landscape of screening policy implementation globally. The work provides a comprehensive overview of risk factors, prevention strategies, and screening recommendations relevant to reducing the global burden of lung cancer.
UK applicability
The review's findings on tobacco control as a central prevention strategy and evidence for low-dose CT screening implementation are directly applicable to UK policy and clinical practice. UK smoking prevalence trends and the role of occupational exposures may differ from global patterns, requiring contextualisation of risk factor estimates for domestic public health planning.
Key measures
Global lung cancer incidence and mortality rates; prevalence of tobacco smoking and environmental risk factors by geography and sex; effectiveness of low-dose CT screening in reducing mortality; screening policy adoption across economically developed and developing countries.
Outcomes reported
The review summarises global lung cancer incidence and mortality patterns, identifies key risk factors (tobacco smoking, environmental and occupational exposures), and documents lung cancer screening policies and their implementation worldwide.
Topic tags
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