Introduction: This study sets out to find out the incidence and other epidemiological characteristics of bronchopulmonary cancer in patients living in Cantabria and Castilla y Leon (Spain) and comparing the current data obtained in the last communities with that obtained 10 years ago in a similar study.
Patients and methods: Prospective, multicentre study using information (age, sex, residence, smoking habits and histology) obtained from all patients diagnosed during the year 2007.
Results: A total of 1486 patients were included--1295 males (87.1%) and 191 females (12.9%)--, of whom 1145 lived in Castilla y Leon--1010 males (88.2%) and 135 females (11.8%)--, and 341 in Cantabria--285 males (83.6%) and 56 females (16.4%)--. The incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants adjusted to the world standard population were significantly higher in Cantabria [29.53; (males: 52.9; females: 9.76)] than in Castilla y Leon [21.35; (males: 38.31; females: 5.58)]. A total of 90.24% were smokers (males: 96.12% and women: 49.17%). The main histology types were: squamous, 32, 82%; adenocarcinoma, 28.74%, and small cell carcinomas, 18.33%. In Castilla y Leon, from 1997 to 2007, the numbers went from 920 to 1010 in males and from 95 to 135 in females (a crude rate increase of 10.5% in males and 43% in females), and showed a decrease in squamous tumours and an increase in adenocarcinomas.
Conclusions: The incidence rates of bronchopulmonary cancer in 2007 were significantly higher in Cantabria than those of Castilla y Leon. The 2007 rates in this community were higher than in 1997 in both males and females.
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