Burden of early-onset colorectal cancer along with attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2019: a comparative study between China and other G20 countries

PURPOSE: The credible data about the burden of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) in China when compared to other countries in the group of twenty (G20) remained unavailable. We aimed to assess the burden and trends of EOCRC and attributable risk factors in China. Meanwhile, the comparison in the burden and attributable risk factors between China and other G20 countries was also evaluated. METHODS: Data on the incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and attributable risk factors of EOCRC in China were obtained from Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 and compared with other G20countries. Temporal trends of age-standardized rates for incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs were evaluated by estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). The autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to forecast the incidence, mortality, and DALY rates of EOCRC in China from 2020 to 2029. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) of EOCRC in China increased with the EAPCs of 4.61 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.45–4.77] and 5.82 (95% CI: 5.60–6.05). When compared to G20 countries, China was ranked 13(th) in the ASIR in 1990 and then increased to 2(nd) in 2019, second only to Japan. The ASPRs increased in all G20 countries, being highest in Saudi Arabia, followed by China and Mexico. Moreover, China had the highest age-standardized mortality rate and highest age-standardized DALY rate in 2019. In China, the five leading risk factors, for both sexes, were diet low in milk [18.54% (95% UI: 12.71–24.07)], diet low in calcium [15.06% (95% UI: 10.70–20.03)], alcohol use [12.16% (95% UI: 8.87–15.64)], smoking [9.08% (95% UI: 3.39–14.11)], and diet high in red meat [9.08% (95% UI: 3.39–14.11)] in 2019. Over the next 10 years, ASIR, ASMR, and age-standardized DALY rate of EOCRC will increase continuously in males and females. CONCLUSION: The burden of EOCRC in China and other G20 countries is worrisome, indicating that coordinated efforts are needed to conduct high-quality researches, allocate medical resources, adjust screening guidelines, and develop effective treatment and prevention strategies in the G20 countries. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-023-16407-y.