Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is still a major public health problem in Thailand. The major risk factor for CCA in Thailand is the carcinogenic liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) infection. This study aimed to investigate the CCA burden attributable to OV infection using the disability-adjusted-life-year (DALY). A cross-section study was conducted using several secondary data including mortality and incidence of CCA from the National Cancer Institute and the prevalence of OV infection from the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. The burden of CCA was estimated at 216,530 DALYs. The bur den in men was 1.5 times higher than in women. The burden of CCA attributable to OV infection was 70,745 DALYs (33% of total CCA) when adjusted for past use of praziquantel and it was 138,221 DALYs (64% of total CCA) when estimated with raw fish eating. This study reflects a considerable reduction of burden if OV infection was prevented, particularly in the northeast of which infection is the highest. Nevertheless, better information and further related research are needed to improve the estimation.
