Investigating the Epidemiology and Mortality of Cancers in the Southeast of Khuzestan in 2014-2019

Cancer is one of the main health challenges in numerous countries. It is the second leading cause of death globally and the third in Iran. In 2020, 19 million new cases and 10 million deaths from cancer were reported worldwide. This study aimed to investigate cancer mortality and morbidity rates in Behbahan City, southeast Khuzestan.

The required data for this descriptive study were collected from pathology, hospital, and death registry centers in Behbahan between 2014 and 2019. Necessary variables were gathered according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer standards, and tumor characteristics were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition. The data were analyzed in SPSS26 software using descriptive statistics, negative binomial regression, and rank-order clustering analysis.

A total of 1,676 patients were identified, 52.5% of whom were male. The most common cancers in men were skin, prostate, and lung, while they were breast, skin, and blood in women. The annual incidence rate was 130.0 per 100,000 people (134.2 in men and 126.2 in women). The mean incidence and mortality rates increased with age (P<0.001) and did not differ significantly between men and women (P>0.05). Moreover, 606 deaths due to cancer were reported, of which 60.7% were men, and 29.7% were under 60 years old.

Considering the upward trend of the elderly population and an increase in cancer incidence at older ages, cancer prevention interventions are necessary.