The aim of the research was to evaluate the incidence of breast cancer in the ecological areas of Kazakhstan and assess the potential . A retrospective study of 11 years (1999 to 2009) was conducted using descriptive and analytical methods. The incidence of breast cancer was the lowest in the Aral-Syr Darya area (18.6±0.80/100,000), and highest in the Irtysh area (48.9±1.90/100,000), with an increasing trends over time in almost all areas. A direct strong correlation between the degree of contamination with high pollution emissions in the atmosphere from stationary sources and the incidence of breast cancer (r=0.77±0.15; р=0.026). The results indicate an increasing importance of breast cancer in Kazakhstan and an etiological role for environmental pollution.

The Central Asian region, which encompasses Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, is an interesting geographic region with a rich history dating back to the Silk Road, Mongol conquests and expansion of the Russian Empire. However, from a public health viewpoint, the Central Asian region is under-investigated, and many public health challenges exist, as countries of Central Asia inherited the centralised medical systems practiced in the Soviet Union, and are currently undergoing rapid transitions. A large number of low and middle-income countries around the world, including countries of Central Asia, face a double burden of chronic and infectious disease. This essay focuses on the exploration of the most important public health challenges in the Central Asian region, including limited scientific productivity, the double burden of chronic and infectious disease, the need for healthcare reform and the reduction in care variation. Central Asia has a large number of medical schools, medical centres, and emerging research institutes that can be used to foster a change in medical and public health practice in the region.

The purpose was to provide a descriptive epidemiological assessment of the incidence of cancer of the larynx in Kazakhstan and spatial evaluation with gender characteristics. Thgis retrospective study covered all new cases of laryngeal cancer in 11 years (1999-2009). The total number was 4,967 cases, 4,535 (91.3%) in males and 432 (8.7%) in women, with a ratio of 10.5:1. The higher incidence in men compared to women was evident in all age groups, the differences being statistically significant (p<0.05). At the same time revealed a unimodal growth with age, peaking at 70 years and older both sexes. In the dynamics, incidence rates of laryngeal cancer demonstrated a tendency to decrease, in women (T=−6.7%) this being more pronounced than in men (T=−3.3%). Levels were determined to produce cartograms of cancer of the larynx for male and female populations, clear geographical variation being evidenced. The data are discussed with reference to possible risk factors.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease among the female population of Kazakhstan like in many developed countries of the world (Canada, UK, US, Western Europe), and it accounts for every 5th tumor. We aimed to assess the epidemiological aspects of breast cancer incidence and mortality among Almaty and Astana (Now Nur-Sultan), Kazakhstan residents in 2009-2018. Methods: A retrospective study using modern descriptive and analytical methods of epidemiology was conducted to evaluate the breast cancer incidence and mortality in megapolises of Kazakhstan. Results: The average annual age-standardized incidence rate of breast cancer amounted to 61.90/0000 (95% CI=56.2-67.6) in Almaty and 61.20/0000 (95% CI=56.765.7) in Astana. The average age-standardized mortality was 19.20/0000 (95% CI=17.3-21.1) in Almaty and 19.30/0000 (95% CI=17.1-21.4) in Astana. The standardized incidence in the megapolises tended to increase (Тgr=+0.8% in Almaty and Тgr=+1.4% in Astana), while the mortality was decreasing (Тdec=−4.2% in Almaty and Тdec=−1.1% in Astana). According to the component analysis, the growth in the number of breast cancer cases was due to a population increase (ΔP=+130.4% in Almaty and ΔP=+93.2% in Astana), with a notable decrease of factors related to the risk of getting sick (ΔR=−27.9% in Almaty, ΔR=−6.1% in Astana). Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study to assess the changes in incidence and mortality from breast cancer in megapolises of Kazakhstan because of screening. The results of this study can be used to improve the government program to combat breast cancer.

The incidence of esophageal cancer in Kazakhstan was analysed for the period of 1989-2010 years, with a focus on trends by age, gender and region. The highest rates of incidence were evident in the Western regions. The dynamics for cancer of the esophagus in the Republic demonstrated decrease, except in the Karaganda region, where a tendency for increase was noted. Considerable variation between regions pointed to differences in risk factor exposure which need to be targeted for future control efforts.