Stomach cancer morbidity in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Trends and characteristics

Abstract

1 ABSTRACT Objective: Within oncological diseases, stomach cancer is ranked fourth in Kazakhstan, following breast cancer, cancer of the trachea, bronchi and lungs, and skin cancer. In males, stomach cancer is ranked second, following cancer of the trachea, bronchi and lungs, and amounting to 11.8% from all the localizations. Methods: Descriptive methods of modern oncological epidemiology were used in the present study, which was performed on the total popu- lation of Kazakhstan. The calculation of the unadjusted and adjusted rates, and the morbidity structure rates was performed according to all age-gender groups over a 10-year period (between 2004 and 2013). Results: 2013, the stomach cancer morbidity frequency in Kazakhstan was 16.4/100,000 of the population (21.8 in males and 11.6 in females). In the structure of malignant growths, the proportion of stomach cancer was 8.5%. There was a tendency in morbidity reduction between 2004 and 2013 (growth rate, -18.0%). A significant predominance of the preva - lence rate of this localization was observed among males. The morbidity peak was indicated in the 75-79 years old group (225.8 and 90.3/100,000 of the relevant population in males and females, respectively). Conclusion: In spite of the progress made in oncology worldwide, stom- ach cancer in Kazakhstan remains one of the most prevailing malignant growths. Identification of the features of stomach cancer morbidity in Kazakhstan may reduce its prevalence in the future by tailoring re- search into preventing the incidence and improving treatment..