BACKGROUND

To provide cancer statistics to health planners, researchers, and the public, we reported the incidence and mortality data of lung cancer in 2008 in Chinese registration areas by age, sex, and geographic area.

METHODS

In 2011, 56 population-based cancer registries reported the lung cancer incidence and mortality data of 2008 to the Chinese National Central Cancer Registry. Forty-one registries' data met the national criteria. The crude incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer were calculated by age, gender, and area. Age-standardized rates were calculated using the Chinese and World populations.

RESULTS

The crude incidence rate for lung cancer was 54.75/100 000 (73.12/100 000 for male and 36.08/100 000 for female; 57.96/100 000 in urban and 42.80/100 000 in rural). Age-standardized rates by China population (CASR) and World population (WASR) for incidence were 24.98/100 000 and 34.07/100 000, respectively. The crude mortality rate for lung cancer was 46.07/100 000 (62.47/100 000 for male and 29.39/100 000 for female; 48.76/100 000 in urban and 36.03/100 000 in rural). The CASR and WASR for mortality were 20.09/100 000 and 27.68/100 000, respectively. Both for incidence and mortality, the rates for lung cancer were higher in males than in females, and in urban areas than in rural areas. The overall age-specific incidence and mortality rates showed that both rates were relatively low up to 35 years of age, but dramatically increased from such age, reaching a peak with subjects of 80-84 years old.

CONCLUSION

The burden of lung cancer remains high in China, especially for males in urban areas. Effective intervention, such as smoking control, should be enhanced in the future.