Cancer Incidence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Results of a Seven-Year Cancer Registration in Erbil and Duhok Governorates

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

2 Center of Research and Strategic Studies, Lebanese French University, Erbil, Iraq.

3 Department of Statistics, College of Administration, Salahaddin University, Iraq.

4 Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

5 Department of internal medicine, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Iraq.

6 Department of Cancer Registry, Cancer Control Unit, Erbil Directorate of Health, Erbil, Iraq.

7 Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, 44002 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

8 Medical Laboratory Analysis Department, College of Health Science, Cihan University of Sulaimaniya, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

9 Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Health Technical College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Iraq.

10 Molecular microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

11 Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

12 Scientific Research Centre, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

13 College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, 44002 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

14 Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM), Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Stockholm, Sweden.

15 Rizgary Oncology Center, Erbil Screening and prevention, Erbil Cancer Control Unit, Erbil Directorate of Health, Erbil, Iraq.

16 Department of Nursing, Ministry of Health, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

17 Department of Midwifery, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

18 Department of Biology, College of Education, University of Salahaddin Erbil, KRG- Iraq.

19 College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

20 Information System Engineering Department, Erbil Polytechnic University, Iraq.

Abstract

Introduction: There are limited published data regarding the recent incidence trends of cancer in Iraqi Kurdistan. Methods: The present study assessed the epidemiological estimates of cancer incidence, as well providing a projection of future cancer trends in the upcoming decade by analysing the population-based cancer registry between 2013 and 2019, in both the Erbil and Duhok governorates. A retrospective analysis was performed on data retrieved from the Medical Statistics Department at the Ministry of Health, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Results: The total number of female cancer patients was higher in both governorates, and the total incidence of patients with cancer increased by over 2x between 2013 and 2019 in Erbil and Duhok, from 73 to 174 patients/100,000 individuals for women, and 36 to 85 patients/100,000 individuals for men. Analysis indicated that the percentage of patients with cancer is projected to increase by >2x in the current decade, from 3,457 cases to 4,547 and 4,449 cases in the Erbil governorate; and from 1,365 to 2,633 and 2,737 cases in 2028 based on LSTM and bi-LTSM analysis in the Duhok governorate. Lung cancer (LC) and female breast cancer (BC) were the most prominent types of cancers diagnosed since 2013 in both the Erbil and Duhok governorates. Conclusion: The striking pattern of trends for both present and future cancer incidence rates require urgent solutions and comprehensive efforts to control risk factors that promote the increasing incidence of cancer in these two KRG governorates.
 

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Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 23, Issue 2
February 2022
Pages 601-615

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 November 2021
  • Revise Date: 06 January 2022
  • Accept Date: 13 February 2022

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