Gastric cancer incidence and mortality in Zhuanghe, China, between 2005 and 2010

AIM: To investigate the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) in Zhuanghe region, northeast China and the influencing factors for their changing trends. METHODS: All new cancer cases and deaths registered from 2005 to 2010 in Zhuanghe County were reviewed. The annual GC cases, constituent ratio, crude rates, age-standardized rates, their sex and age distribution and temporal trends were assessed. The method of annual percentage change (APC) was used to estimate the trends of GC. RESULTS: Altogether 2634 new cases of GC and 1722 related deaths were registered, which accounted for 21.04% and 19.13% of all cancer-related incidence and deaths, respectively. The age-standardized incidence rate steadily decreased from 57.48 in 2005 to 44.53 in 2010 per 10(5) males, and from 18.13 to 14.70 per 10(5) females, resulting in a APC of -5.81% for males and -2.89% for females over the entire period. The magnitude of APC in GC mortality amounted to -11.09% and -15.23%, respectively, as the age-standardized mortality rate steadily decreased from 42.08 in 2005 to 23.71 in 2010 per 10(5) males, and from 23.86 to 10.78 per 10(5) females. Females had a significantly lower incidence (a male/female ratio 2.80, P < 0.001) and mortality (a male/female ratio 2.30, P < 0.001). In both genders, the peak incidence and mortality occurred in the 80-84 years age group. The age-standardized mortality/incidence ratio also decreased from the peak of 0.73 in 2005 to 0.53 in 2010 for males, and from 1.32 to 0.73 for females. CONCLUSION: Encouraging declines of incidence and mortality of GC were observed in Zhuanghe region between 2005 and 2010, possibly due to the economic development and efficient GC control strategies. (C) 2012 Baishideng. All rights reserved.