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Comparative Study
. 2016 Apr;48(2):789-97.
doi: 10.4143/crt.2015.062. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Population-Based Regional Cancer Incidence in Korea: Comparison between Urban and Rural Areas

Haa-Na Song  1 , Se-Il Go  1 , Won Sup Lee  1 , Yire Kim  1 , Hye Jung Choi  1 , Un Seok Lee  1 , Myoung Hee Kang  1 , Gyeong-Won Lee  1 , Hoon-Gu Kim  1 , Jung Hun Kang  1 , Yune Sik Kang  2 , Jeong-Hee Lee  3 , Jin-Myung Jung  4 , Soon Chan Hong  5
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Population-Based Regional Cancer Incidence in Korea: Comparison between Urban and Rural Areas

Haa-Na Song et al. Cancer Res Treat. 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in organ-specific cancer incidence according to the region and population size in Korea.

Materials and methods: We reviewed the data of the cancer registration program of Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center between 2008 and 2011. Age-standardized rates of cancer incidence were analyzed according to population size of the region and administrative zone.

Results: Incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing rapidly in both urban and rural areas. However, the thyroid cancer incidence was much lower in rural areas than in urban areas and megalopolis such as Seoul. Gastric cancer was relatively more common in rural areas, in megalopolis near the sea (Ulsan, Busan, and Incheon), and other southern provinces (Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do). A detailed analysis in Gyeongsangnam-do revealed that rural areas have relatively low incidence of thyroid and colorectal cancer, and relatively high incidence of gastric and lung cancer compared to urban areas.

Conclusion: This study suggests that there are some differences in cancer incidence by population size. Thyroid and colorectal cancer incidence was increasing, and gastric and lung cancer was slightly decreasing in urban areas, whereas gastric and lung cancer incidence still remains high in rural areas.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Korea; Rural population; Urbanization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest relevant to this article was not reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Annual age-standardized cancer incidence for all sites during 1999-2011 nationwide and during 2008-2011 in Gyeongsangnam-do.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Trends in age-standardized incidence of major cancers (A, thyroid cancer; B, gastric cancer; C, colorectal cancer; D, hepatobiliary cancer; and E, lung cancer) during 2008-2011 nationwide and Gyeongsangnam-do.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Regional cancer incidence according to population size in Gyeongsangnam-do and in Seoul in 2011.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Trends in age-standardized incidence of major cancers according to population size during 2008-2011 in Gyeongsangnam-do: metropolitan (A), non-metropolitan urban (B), and rural area (C).
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Age-standardized incidence of major cancers in megalopolises and provinces in 2011.
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