Work

Investigating the putative unforeseen link between football fervour and colorectal cancer screening in Denmark

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent cancer globally, often remaining asymptomatic in its early stages but posing high mortality risks in advanced tumours. Screening for CRC (sCRC) has shown to effectively reduce both incidence and mortality rates. In this study, we investigate a potential association between a decline in sCRC participation in Denmark and a major sporting event. We conducted an association cohort study encompassing all citizens aged 50 to 74, who were invited to undergo sCRC screening in Region Zealand, Denmark, spanning from 2014 to 2022. Our analysis revealed a noticeable reduction in sCRC participation specifically during the 2-week period in autumn 2022 coinciding with the participation of the Danish football team in the Football World Cup 2022 held in Qatar. To our knowledge, this is the first instance where an international sporting event has been linked to a decline in national sCRC participation, suggesting that the fervour of sports enthusiasts may divert attention away from preventive health measures. Notably, no similar reductions in sCRC participation were observed during any other sporting events throughout the entire study period (2014-2022) in Denmark.

Source: PeerJ

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18057

Authors: Alonzo Alfaro-Núñez, Stina Christensen, Esther A. Jensen

Institutions: University of Copenhagen, Næstved Sygehus, Region Zealand

Language: English

Topic: Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,395