Prevention

Population-based and multi-centre research on the island of Ireland shows that the risk of cancer progression in non-dysplastic BO patients is relatively low (approximately 0.2-0.3% per year) but this significantly rises in dysplastic patients. Therefore, major research gaps remain in determining how best to stratify BO patients into low or high-risk groups to avoid unnecessary burden on limited healthcare resources and to provide reassurance to BO patients at lower risk, while improving surveillance strategies for higher-risk patients. In terms of prevention of OAC and BO risk and progression, ‘known’ risk factors include obesity and tobacco smoking, and yet implementation of prevention strategies for patients at high-risk of OAC remain largely unexplored. Consumption of alcohol is not associated with OAC risk, however other exposures, such as physical activity, nutrition and medication use require further study.