Trends in cancer incidence in Lithuania between 1991 and 2010

Abstract

Background. Analysis of time trends in cancer incidence provides an estimate of the burden of cancer in a certain population and is a useful tool for planning cancer control. Identification of changing epidemiological patterns in cancer is crucial in formulating future healthcare clinical tools, evaluating prognostic and therapeutic models, and generating new hypotheses on disease aetiology and prevention.Materials and methods. Patients diagnosed with cancer in Lithuania between 1991 and 2010 were considered into analysis. Crude rates and age-standardized incidence rates for both sexes were calculated, as well as annual percent change with 95% confidence intervals for selected cancer sites using the Joinpoint Regression Analysis.Results. With the major exceptions of male lung cancer and stomach cancer in both sexes, cancer incidence has increased for most cancer sites in the last two decades in Lithuania. The strongest rises in incidence were seen for prostate cancer in men and thyroid cancer in women. Overall cancer incidence in men was strongly influenced by newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases.Conclusions. This up-to-date analysis provides a basis for establishing priorities to cancer control actions in Lithuania. These results show increase in incidence rates in Lithuania of all cancers combined among both men and women. Trends in cancer incidence rates for males were heavily influenced by trends in prostate cancer which is the most common cancer among men. Increasing cancer incidence requires targeted interventions on risk factors control, early diagnosis, and improved management and pharmacological treatment for selected cancer sites.

Trends in the incidence and mortality of kidney cancer in Lithuania from 1993 to 2012

“…The greatest increase was observed in males and in females aged 75 years and above, and for stage I tumours. The rising incidence of kidney cancer in our study is consistent with the rapidly increasing incidence reported worldwide (2, 3, 6–10, 12). In the most recent analysis of the global burden of urologic cancers, the trend has been attributed to the population growth (35.0%), changes in age structure (34.7%), and increasing incidence rates (37.1%) (7).…”

“…Kidney cancer incidence is rising in Lithuania, possibly due to diagnostic improvements (6). In this paper, we present an analysis of kidney cancer incidence and mortality trends in Lithuania during the period of 1993–2012 using joinpoint regression models with special attention to changes in the distribution of stages.…”

Reproductive Factors and Breast Cancer Risk in Lithuanian Women: A Population-Based Cohort Study

“…The differences of breast cancer incidence in Europe are likely due to variations in reproductive factors, such as postponed first childbirth and lower parity across populations, and these changes in the childbearing pattern during recent decades will probably affect cancer incidence in the future [ 14 ]. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among females in Lithuania and the incidence rate has been steadily increasing during the last few decades [ 15 ]. This coincides with a notable change in childbearing patterns such as an increase in the late first births after the age of 30 [ 13 ].…”