Hungary ranks 1st globally for highest cancer death rates, new study finds
A recent study by Universal Drugstore using OECD data has revealed that Hungary holds the highest cancer death rate globally, with 286.4 deaths per 100,000 people. This alarming statistic places Hungary significantly above the average of 201.2 deaths per 100,000 across the 36 countries analysed.
Eastern Europe leads in high cancer mortality
Hungary’s position as the country with the highest cancer death rate highlights a concerning regional trend. Nearly all the top-ranking nations for cancer mortality are in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, with Denmark as the only exception, Universal Drugstore found. This clustering suggests that shared cultural and lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits, smoking prevalence, and alcohol consumption, may contribute to the elevated rates.
Factors behind Hungary’s grim statistics
Several factors could explain Hungary’s high cancer death rate:
- Lifestyle risks: High rates of smoking and alcohol consumption have long been recognised as significant contributors to cancer prevalence in Hungary.
- Diet and obesity: Traditional diets in Hungary often feature high-fat, processed, and red meat-heavy meals, all of which have been linked to cancer risk.
- Healthcare access and screening: Limited access to timely cancer screenings and treatments, coupled with overburdened healthcare systems, may exacerbate mortality rates.
- Environmental factors: Industrial pollution and poor air quality in some regions of Hungary are additional risk factors.
How Hungary compares
Hungary’s rate of 286.4 cancer deaths per 100,000 people starkly contrasts with Mexico’s 125.9, the lowest among the 36 countries studied. Even within Europe, Hungary’s figures far exceed the median of 196.1 deaths. For comparison, Türkiye, which has the second-lowest cancer death rate in the study, recorded only 154.1 deaths per 100,000 people.
The gender gap in cancer mortality
Consistent with global trends, Hungarian men face higher cancer mortality rates than women. Lifestyle factors such as higher smoking rates among men are often cited as contributing to this disparity.
What can be done?
Addressing Hungary’s cancer crisis requires a multifaceted approach, including:
- Public health campaigns: Encouraging lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, reducing alcohol intake, and promoting healthier eating habits.
- Improved screening programs: Enhancing early detection through accessible and widespread screening initiatives.
- Investments in healthcare: Bolstering the healthcare system with better infrastructure and resources for cancer treatment and research.
- Environmental regulations: Implementing stricter controls on industrial emissions to reduce environmental carcinogens.
A wake-up call
While cancer death rates are declining globally due to advances in medicine and early detection, Hungary’s figures are a stark reminder that much work remains to be done. Without significant interventions, Hungary’s alarming cancer mortality rate will continue to overshadow the strides made in other countries.
This study underscores the urgency of addressing the social, cultural, and systemic factors driving Hungary’s cancer epidemic.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com
Hungary – an “Aged” decreasing in population numbers Society.
Deaths per annum, outnumber “new” babies being born.
This “trend” has persisted in the 16 years under the Orban led Fidesz Government of Hungary.
“What can be Done”.
The (4) facts, my opinion, highlighted, the gargantuan PROBLEM facing Hungary is, they ALL need Government INVESTMENT.
Orban, the Fidesz Government that have been a cataclysmic failure as a Government, in there LACK of PRIORITIZATION’S – from an investment point of view perspective, the spending application of tax payers money, and grants obtained through the European Union, they have Dismal FAILURES.
The Orban led Fidesz Government has NO money to INVEST – back into Hungary.
Governments, that is the Orban led “doomed” Fidesz Government of Hungary, that are “Toxic” in its Practices and Culture, that through WRONGFUL – lack of thought process FAILED in there PRIORIZATIONAL agenda, that factually has placed or DELIVERED Hungary, to the country, the DARK place as a country we presently are, worsening, through WASTAGE – in there lack of rightful investments into Hungary – for these current times and – the FUTURE of Hungary.
History never Lies and the present Economic and “other” picture, the “ugly” picture Hungary factually displays, is that the Orban led Fidesz Government, on the “cusp” of Insolvency – remiss of funds to make INVESTMENTS – through History, it is accepted, that Governments that are in a postion to make Investments, that are DEBT “riddled” with NO solidness in there Economy to counter there existing Debts and, in the case of Hungary, what’s still to ARRIVE, when this factors in unison “Dance” together – occur, it brings powerfully GOVERNMENTS rightly DOWN.
“What can be Done” simple answer – bring down replace the present Orban led Fidesz Government of Hungary.
That’s the commencement, the starting point of the “re-build” of Hungary.
Finally Fidesz can now brag about leading the country to be first in something. You can’t fail any worse than that. I do notice high rates of smoking whenever I am in Hungary. This article sums the causation factors quite well.
If you want to know what this complete failure of a government has done look at the fact that Hungary does not have a dedicated Ministry of Health. Health was rolled into the “Ministry Of Human Resources” which is also responsible for the welfare system and education. Health care is low low low on the list of priorities. The strange comment I saw out of this government was that the important reason for keeping people healthy was to improve labour productivity and the national economy. They don’t care about you . They just care about whether you can work to keep the economy going. If you are over the age of 80 you will have a hard time getting any kind of expensive treatment for a life threatening medical condition. You are left to die and I know someone who couldn’t get chemotherapy for leukemia because she was over age 80.
As noted, the main reason for the high cancer rate is smoking. The government doesn’t put anything like enough effort into reducing the smoking rate.