JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Despite rapid development of cancer registries in low- and middle-income countries like China, it has the persistent problems with delayed reports and lack of details about small-size areas.

Objective:

This study aimed to develop a new approach for cancer surveillance based on linked administrative data about hospital discharges and death registration.

Methods:

This population-based cohort study was based on the hospitalization record front pages (HRFPs) between 2013 and 2022 from all the secondary and tertiary hospitals and death registration in Shandong Province, China. Incident cases of and deaths from lung cancer were ascertained for 2022. We estimated age-standardized incidence and mortality rates (ASIR and ASMR) of lung cancer in 2022 using Segi’s World Standard Population, age-specific incidence and mortality rates by sex, and the ASIR and ASMR stratified by county to illustrate regional disparity.

Results:

Taking 2013-2021 as the washout period, the HRFP captured 79,672 incident cases of lung cancer in Shandong in 2022 (45,527 males, 34,145 females). The ASIR of lung cancer in Shandong was 42.46 per 100,000 in both sexes (49.19/100,000 in male vs. 36.67/100,000 in female). A total of 40,626 lung cancer-specific deaths were ascertained (28,185 men and 12,441 women). The ASMR was 19.76 per 100,000 in both sexes, 26.29/100,000 and 11.38/100,000 in males and females, respectively. The interquartile range of county-level ASIR and ASMR were 17.13/100,000 and 10.41/100,000, respectively.

Conclusions:

The cancer surveillance approach based on linked administrative data could provide up-to-date small-area estimates of cancer burden when cancer registry data are not yet reported and for areas not covered by cancer registries. It could further reveal disparity of cancer epidemiology, the reasons behind which is worth further investigation.