Favorable Trends of Lung Cancer Mortality-to-Incidence Ratios in Countries With High Computed Tomography Density

Abstract

Background: Prognoses for lung cancer deteriorate dramatically with the progression of cancer stages. Therefore, early screening by techniques such as low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is critical. However, the epidemiology regarding the association between the popularization of CT and the prognosis for lung cancer is not known.Methods: Data were obtained from GLOBOCAN and the health data and statistics of World Health Organization. MIRs and the changes in MIR over time (𝛿MIR), which were calculated as the difference between MIRs in 2018 and 2012, were used to evaluate the correlation to CT density disparities via Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.Results: Countries with zero CT density presented a relatively low incidence crude rate and a relatively high MIR in 2018 and a negative 𝛿MIR. Conversely, countries with CT density over 30 had a positive 𝛿MIR. The CT density was significantly associated with human development index (HDI) score and MIR in 2018 but demonstrated no association with MIR in 2012. The linear correlation between CT density and 𝛿MIR also shows a significant association.Conclusion: CT density was significantly associated with MIR in 2018 and with 𝛿MIR, indicating favorable clinical outcomes in countries with popularization of CT.

Association of Computed Tomographic Screening Promotion With Lung Cancer Overdiagnosis Among Asian Women

“…Understandably, these survivors believe they owe their lives to screening and become its strongest supporters. Celebrity survivors have become particularly strong advocates for population-wide LDCT screening for lung cancer . Thus, the popularity paradox is at work: the more overdiagnosis and overtreatment result from screening, the more people believe they owe their life to the screening and the more popular it becomes …”