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. 2016 Oct 1;17(10):4723-4727.
doi: 10.22034/apjcp.2016.17.10.4723.

High Mortality Rate of Stomach Cancer Caused Not by High Incidence but Delays in Diagnosis in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Masashi Matsuzaka  1 , Rina Tanaka, Yoshihiro Sasaki
Affiliations

High Mortality Rate of Stomach Cancer Caused Not by High Incidence but Delays in Diagnosis in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Masashi Matsuzaka et al. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. .

Abstract

Background: There are substantial differences in the mortality rates of stomach cancer among the 47 prefectures in Japan, and Aomori prefecture is one of the most severely impacted. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence and mortality rates of stomach cancer in Aomori prefecture in comparison with Japan as a whole and cast light on reasons underlying variation. Methods: Data on stomach cancer cases were extracted from the Aomori Cancer Registry Database. Incidence rates for specific stages at the time of diagnosis were cited from Monitoring of Cancer Incidence in Japan, and mortality rates for stomach cancer in Aomori prefecture and the whole of Japan were obtained from Vital Statistics. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates were calculated using the direct method. Results: The age-standardised incidence rate of stomach cancer in Aomori prefecture was higher than in the whole of Japan for males but lower for females. However, the age-standardised mortality rates were higher in Aomori prefecture in both sexes. The proportion of localised cancers was lower in Aomori prefecture than in the whole of Japan for most age groups. Conclusions: The lower rate for localised cancer suggests that higher age-standardised mortality rates are due to delays in diagnosis, despite an attendance rate for stomach cancer screening was higher in Aomori prefecture than in the whole of Japan. One plausible explanation for the failure of successful early detection might be poor quality control during screening implementation that impedes early detection.

Keywords: Stomach cancer; delays in diagnosis; age; standardised mortality rate.

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Figures

Figure 1a
Figure 1a
Age-Standardised Incidence and Mortality Rates of Stomach Cancer Among Males in Aomori Prefecture and Whole of Japan
Figure 1b
Figure 1b
Age-Standardised Incidence and mortality Rates of Stomach Cancer Among Females in Aomori Prefecture and Whole of Japan
Figure 2a
Figure 2a
Age-Specific Incidence Rates of Stomach Cancer among Males in Aomori Prefecture and Whole of Japan (2010-2012)
Figure 2b
Figure 2b
Age-Specific Mortality Rates of Stomach Cancer among Males in Aomori Prefecture and Whole of Japan (2010-2012)
Figure 3a
Figure 3a
Age-Specific Incidence Rates of Stomach Cancer among Females in Aomori Prefecture and Whole of Japan (2010-2012)
Figure 3b
Figure 3b
Age-Specific Mortality Rates of Stomach Cancer among Females in Aomori Prefecture and Whole of Japan (2010-2012)
Figure 4a
Figure 4a
Age-Specific Percentages of Specific Stages of Stomach Cancer at Diagnosis Among Males (2010-2012)
Figure 4b
Figure 4b
Age-Specific Percentages of Specific Stages of Stomach Cancer at Diagnosis Among Females (2010-2012)
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