Cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening worldwide: a systematic review / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: From the economic point of view, this study was to systematically assess the status quo on lung cancer screening in the world and to provide reference for further research and implementation of the programs, in China. Methods: PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library,CNKI and Wanfang Data were searched to gather papers on studies related to economic evaluation regarding lung cancer screening worldwide, from the inception of studies to June 30(th), 2018. Basic characteristics, methods and main results were extracted. Quality of studies was assessed. Cost were converted to Chinese Yuan under the exchange rates from the World Bank. The ratio of incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) to local GDP per capita were calculated. Results: A total of 23 studies (only 1 randomized controlled trial) were included and the overall quality was accepted. 22 studies were from the developed countries. Nearly half of the studies (11 studies) took 55 years old as the starting age of the screening program. Smoking history was widely applied for the selection of criteria on target populations (18). Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) was involved in every study used to evaluate the economic effectiveness. Annual (17) and once-life time (7) screening were more common frequencies. 22 studies reported ICERs for LDCT screening, compared to no screening, of which 17 were less than 3 times local GDP per capita, and were considered as cost-effectiveness, according to the WHO's recommendation. 15 and 7 studies reported ICERs for annual and once-life time screening, of which 12 and 7 studies were in favor the results of their cost-effectiveness, respectively. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness of once-lifetime screening was likely to be superior to the annual screening. Differences of cost-effectiveness among the subgroups, by starting age or by the smoking history, might exist. Conclusions: Based on the studies, evidence from the developed countries demonstrated that LDCT screening programs on lung cancer, implemented among populations selected by age and smoking history, generally appeared more cost-effective. Combined with the local situation of health resource, the findings could provide direction for less developed regions/countries lacking of local evidence. Low frequency of LDCT screening for lung cancer could be adopted when budget was limited. Data on starting ages, smoking history and other important components related to the strategy of screening programs, needs to be precisely evaluated under the situation of local population.

Stratified sampling survey of major human parasitic diseases in Henan province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the prevalence of major human parasitic diseases and related factors in Henan province. Methods: This stratified sampling survey was carried out according to the requirement of national survey protocol of major human parasitic diseases, 2014-2015. The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths infection, taeniasis and intestinal protozoiasis were surveyed in 104 sites selected from 35 counties (districts) and the prevalence of clonorchiasis was surveyed in 62 sites selected from 37 townships. In each survey spot, 250 persons were surveyed. A total of 26 866 persons and 15 893 persons were surveyed. Modified Kato-Katz thick smear was used to detect the eggs of intestinal helminthes. Tube fecal culture was used to identify the species of hookworm. The Enterobius eggs were detected in children aged 3 to 6 years by using adhesive tape. The cyst and trophozoite of intestinal protozoa were examined with physiological saline direct smear method and iodine stain method. Results: The overall infestation rate of intestinal parasites was2.02% in Henan, and the worm infection rate was higher than protozoa infection rate. Fourteen kinds of intestinal parasites were found, including nematode (5 species), trematode (2 species), and protozoan (7 species). The infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis was highest, and Qinba Mountain ecological area had the highest infestation rate of intestinal parasites in 4 ecological areas of Henan. There was no significant difference in intestinal parasite infection rate between males and females (χ(2)=3.630, P=0.057), and the differences in intestinal parasite infection rate among different age groups had significance (χ(2)=124.783, P=0.000 1). The infection rate reached the peak in age group ≤9 years and the major parasite was Enterobius vermicularis. Furthermore the overall human infection rate of parasite showed a downward trend with the increase of educational level of the people (χ(2)=70.969, P=0.000 1), the differences had significance (χ(2)=120.118, P=0.000 1). For different populations, the infection rate of intestinal parasites was highest among preschool children. The infection of intestinal helminth was mainly mild, only 2 severe cases were detected. The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis in urban residents was only 0.006%. Logistic regression analysis showed that being preschool children (χ(2)=15.765, P=0.000 1) and drinking well water (χ(2)=45.589, P=0.000 1) were the risk factors for intestinal parasite infection, and annual income per capita of farmers was the protective factor against intestinal parasite infection. The infection rates of protozoa and intestinal parasites decreased sharply compared with the results of previous two surveys, and the rate of intestinal helminth infection also dropped sharply compared with the second survey. The numbers of protozoa, helminth and intestinal parasites detected in this survey were all less than the numbers found in the previous two surveys. Conclusions: Compared the results of three surveys in Henan, the infection rate of protozoa and intestinal parasites showed a downward trend. The prevention and treatment of Enterobius vermicularis infection in children should be the key point of parasitic disease control in the future.

Progress of research on the association between air pollution and prevalence of major cancers / 中华流行病学杂志

Being an undisputed risk factor of cancer, air pollution is posing a huge threat to the health on human beings. In this article, we introduced the composition of air pollution, and the standards on air quality which was set by both World Health Organization and the Chinese government. We also summarized the most recent research findings on the association between air pollution and the risk of lung, breast, bladder and other major cancers.

Estimation on the incidence and mortality of kidney cancer in China, in 2014 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To estimate the incidence and mortality of kidney cancer in China in 2014, based on the cancer registration data. Data was collected through the National Central Cancer Registry (NCCR). Methods: All together, 449 cancer registries submitted required data on incidence and deaths of kidney cancer occurred in 2014, to the NCCR. After evaluation on the quality of data,339 registries were accepted for analysis and stratified by areas (urban/rural) and age groups. Combined with data from the National population in 2014, the nationwide incidence and mortality of kidney cancer were estimated. Data from the 2000 National census was used, and with Segi's population used for the rates of age-standardized incidence/mortality. Results: The qualified 339 cancer registries covered a total population of 288 243 347, with 144 061 915 in urban and 144 181 432 in rural areas. The percentage of morphologically verified cases and cases with only available death certificates were 72.70% and 1.27%, respectively. The mortality to incidence ratio was 0.37. The estimates of new cases were around 68 300 in whole China, in 2014, with a crude incidence rate as 4.99/100 000 (95%CI: 4.95/100 000-5.03/100 000). The age-standardized incidence rates of kidney cancer, estimated by China standard population (ASR China) and world standard population (ASR world) were 3.43/100 000 (95%CI: 3.40/100 000-3.46/100 000) and 3.40/100 000 (95%CI: 3.37/100 000- 3.43/100 000), respectively. The cumulative incidence rate of kidney cancer was 0.40% in China. The crude and ASR China incidence rates for males appeared as 6.09/100 000 (6.03/100 000-6.15/100 000) and 4.32/100 000 (4.28/100 000-4.36/100 000), respectively, whereas those were 3.84/100 000 (3.79/100 000-3.89/100 000) and 2.54/100 000 (2.50/100 000-2.58/100 000) for females. The crude and ASR China incidence rates in urban areas appeared as 6.60/100 000 (95%CI: 6.54/100 000-6.66/100 000) and 4.25/100 000 (95%CI: 4.21/100 000-4.29/100 000), respectively, whereas those were 3.05/100 000 (95%CI: 3.01/100 000-3.09/100 000) and 2.29/100 000 (95%CI: 2.25/100 000-2.33/100 000) in rural areas. The estimates of kidney cancer deaths were around 25 600 in the country, in 2014, with a crude mortality rate of 1.87/100 000 (95%CI: 1.85/100 000-1.89/100 000). The ASR China and ASR world mortality rates appeared as 1.16/100 000 (95%CI: 1.14/100 000-1.18/100 000) and 1.16/100 000(95%CI: 1.14/100 000-1.18/100 000), respectively, with a cumulative mortality rate (0-74 years old) of 0.12%. The crude and ASR China mortality rates were 2.31/100 000 (95%CI: 2.27/100 000- 2.35/100 000) and 1.52/100 000 (95%CI: 1.50/100 000-1.54/100 000) for males, respectively, whereas those were 1.41/100 000 (95%CI: 1.38/100 000-1.44/100 000) and 0.81/100 000 (95%CI: 0.79/100 000- 0.83/100 000) for females. The crude and ASR China mortality rates were 2.49/100 000 (95%CI: 2.45/100 000-2.53/100 000) and 1.42/100 000 (95%CI: 1.40/100 000-1.44/100 000) in urban areas, respectively, whereas those were 1.12/100 000 (95%CI: 1.09/100 000-1.15/100 000) and 0.78/100 000 (95%CI: 0.76/100 000-0.80/100 000) in the rural areas. Conclusions: Both the incidence and mortality of kidney cancer seemed low, in China. However, the incidence of kidney cancer had greatly increased. Our findings suggested that prevention and control strategies for kidney cancer should be focused on males in the urban areas.