Abstract
Diseases of the large intestine continue to make a significant contribution to population morbidity and mortality, which determines their high medical and social importance. Since the beginning of the 21st century, an increase in the prevalence of colorectal pathology has been observed, along with a shift in the age structure of patients toward younger groups, which highlights the relevance of analysing factors influencing the development of these diseases and approaches to their prevention. The aim of this review was to summarise and systematise current scientific evidence on risk determinants and strategies for reducing the burden of major diseases of the large intestine. An analysis of 52 publications was conducted, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, large cohort studies, and randomised controlled trials retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The review included studies published between 1990 and 2025, with 53.8% of the sources dated from 2020 to 2025. The literature analysis demonstrated that dietary patterns, excess body weight, low physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption play a leading role in the development of large intestinal diseases. Alterations in gut microbiota composition and chronic inflammation are considered key pathogenic mechanisms. A reduction in disease incidence and mortality has been confirmed for screening strategies based on endoscopic and non-invasive methods, as well as for selected pharmacological and technological approaches, including computer-assisted endoscopic systems. The findings of this review may be applied in clinical practice, planning of screening programs, and development of prevention-oriented interventions within public health systems
Keywords
colorectal cancer; inflammatory bowel disease; diverticular disease; polyposis; lifestyle; screeningSuggested citation
References
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