Developing Concerns: Colorectal Cancer Trends and Human Development Index in South-East Asia

Background: From 2008 to 2020, colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality increased by approximately 50% and 47%, respectively, in South-East Asia (SEA). The human development index (HDI) influences various lifestyle choices (including physical activity), which may contribute to the prevalence of CRC in this region, distinct from factors related to medical or hereditary history. This study aims to evaluate and demonstrate the impacts and association of HDI with age-standardized rates (ASR) of CRC incidence and mortality in SEA.Methods: Utilizing data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2020, this study analyzed ASR for CRC incidence and mortality in each SEA country. Concurrently, the HDI for 2021 in these nations was gathered from the Human Development Reports. Using Spearman correlation analysis, we investigated the link between CRC ASR (incidence and mortality) and HDI indicators, including life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income per Capita (2017 Purchasing power parity [PPP$]). The statistical significance threshold was set at P