Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The lung cancer incidence was significantly increased in the past two decades in China. But the secular trend of lung cancer incidence difference between gender (male and female), area (urban and rural) and average age was not clear. The aim of this study is to analyze the trend of lung cancer incidence rate ratio between gender, area and average age in China during 1989-2008, and provide some inspiration for lung cancer prevention and control activities. METHODS: Cancer registry data and population data in China from 1989 to 2008 were collected by the National Cancer Registration Center. Stratified for gender and area, Poisson regression model was used to estimate annual lung cancer incidence rate ratio between male and female, urban and rural areas. The average age of lung cancer incidence was calculated. Linear regression was used to model the trend of annual incidence rate ratio and average age over time. RESULTS: Incidence rate ratios of lung cancer between male and female, urban and rural areas were significantly decreased from 2.47 and 2.07 to 2.28 and 1.14 during 1989-2008, respectively. Meanwhile, the average age of lung cancer incidence among male and female dramatically increased from 65.32 and 65.14 to 67.87 and 68.05, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The difference of lung cancer incidence between male and female, urban and rural areas remarkably decreased from 1989 to 2008. The average age of lung cancer occurrence gradually increased. Researches, prevention and control activities on lung cancer with consideration of new incidence pattern should be strengthened.