The goal aims to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, by one third by 2030 through prevention and treatment.
 "Only eight countries can reduce premature mortality and achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030: report")
Previous studies have shown that cancer, along with cardiovascular disease (heart-related), is the first or second leading cause of premature death in most countries and WHO regions, the authors said. Picture Press Trust of India New Delhi
Despite premature cancer deaths falling in three-quarters of countries around the world, only eight countries stand a chance of meeting the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.4, a recent study points out.
The goal aims to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, by one third by 2030 through prevention and treatment.
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In the study, researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Switzerland and elsewhere calculated the risk of premature death for people aged 30 to 69 and showed how patterns of annual premature cancer deaths changed in 183 countries between 2000 and 2019.
Data from the WHO World Health Estimates were used.
The team found that while there has been an overall decline in premature deaths from all cancers across Southeast Asia, there has been an increase in premature deaths from breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. The findings, published in the Lancet Oncology journal,
However, “in most countries, rates[of premature cancer deaths]are not declining rapidly enough to meet the SDG 3.4 target, and no WHO region will meet the all-cancer combined SDG 3.4 target,” the authors write.
According to the researchers, 35 million new cancer cases are projected to occur by 2050, with the burden expected to be highest in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and low-income countries (LICs).
Previous studies have found that cancer, along with cardiovascular (heart-related) disease, is now the first or second cause of premature death in most countries and WHO regions, the authors said.
However, no studies have assessed early death by cancer type, the researchers said.
