Document Type : Research Articles
Authors
1
Faculty of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
2
Student Research Committee, Faculty of Public Health Branch, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3
Department of Epidemiology, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Abstract
Background and objective: Stomach cancer is the second common and the most deadly type of cancer in Iranian
populations. The pattern of this cancer varies in different populations; demonstrating association with environmental,
racial, and geographical factors. The focus of this study was to identify the clustering and the high-risk and low-risk
regions for stomach cancer by using spatio-temporal analysis in Kermanshah province during 2009-2014. Method:
All new cases of stomach cancer were studied by census method in 2009 to end 2014 in Kermanshah province.
The required information and statistics (address, age, and sex) of patients were extracted from the cancer registry
system of Vice-Chancellor in health affairs, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Also, with having
the location, diagnosis time, and counting information of all age groups of stomach cancer patients, the spatially
and temporally abnormal places of clustering were identified with the use of saTScan and GIS. Results: the total
number of stomach cancer subjects during the period of study was 1040, with a mean age of 66.5± 1. in addition, 11
regions (located in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd municipal districts) demonstrated abnormal Spatio-temporal pattern of stomach
cancer incidence (hot spots) and clustered disease, with 5 regions (in 4th and 5th districts) representing lower chance of
clustering (cold spots, p value˂0.05). Conclusion: Given the growing rate of stomach cancer incidence in specific
geographical areas and, its high potential of mortality, and the possible relationship with environmental variables
(e.g. climate variables); the efforts need to be focused on the identification of hot/cold spots, the predisposing factors,
and the possible clusters in the affected areas.
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