Risk factors for oesophageal cancer in Linzhou, China: a case-control study.

Linzhou City has one of the highest incidences of oesophageal cancer in China, and in the world. A case-control study was here conducted to investigate potential risk factors in this area. Linzhou Cancer Registry was used to identify cases of oesophageal cancer, aged between 30 and 75, diagnosed between January 1998 and April 1999. Three neighbourhood controls were selected for each case, matched according to age, sex and village of residence. A total of 211 cases and 633 controls were interviewed. A strong association was found between socio-economic status and the risk of oesophageal cancer. Increased income, residential space and education were all significantly associated with a decreased risk (OR 0.54, 0.36 and 0.30 respectively). Using a drinking water source other than tap water was significantly associated with an increased risk (OR 5.49). The consumption of beans, vegetables and vinegar all showed a protective effect with odds ratios of 0.37, 0.44 and 0.37 respectively. Preferences for a low salt diet or a high salt diet were both associated with an increased risk. It can be concluded that in Linzhou, oesophageal cancer is a disease related to poverty. Having a drinking water source other than tap water increases the risk of oesophageal cancer. As in other populations, a high consumption of vegetables and beans are associated with a decreased risk and a preference for a high salt diet is associated with an increased risk.

Trends in the epidemiology of lung cancer in Henan, China / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To evaluate the epidemiological trends of lung cancer in Henan, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cancer mortality data were collected from 1974 to 1999. The mortality trends of lung cancer were studied. Secular trend on lung cancer form 1974 to 2010 with regression used for spatial analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The data showed that lung cancer was the dominating cause of all cancer-related deaths in Henan. During the period of 1974 to 1999, marked changes took place in Henan in the mortality rate of lung cancer. Lung cancer mortality rates increased from 4.15 per 100 000 in the early seventies to 12.13 per 100 000 in the late nineties, lung cancer accounted for 5.09% of all cancer related deaths in the early seventies and 14.09% in the late nineties. In general, men had higher mortality rate than women, and urban area had higher mortality rates than rural area. The mortality rate for male and female would be about 25 per 100 000 and 15 per 100 000 respectively in 2010 if no intervention strategy was taken</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The overall age-adjusted mortality rate of lung cancer in Henan has increased during the past two decades, strengthening education for health is very important in cancer control.</p>