Abstract
Background: The burden of cancer is on the rise and its epidemiology
varies across different regions. Aims: To explore the epidemiology of
cancer mortality in Iran, the current study examined data from 2004 to
2018 for the population served by Sabzevar University of Medical
Sciences. Methods and results: This study collected data on cancer
mortality using a registration system that classified the causes of
death. The information was evaluated and analyzed using IBM SPSS Ver.22
at a significance level of 0.05, based on the ICD10 classification
system. Over a period of 15 years, the mortality rate for all causes was
848.54 per ten thousand people, while the rate for cancer was 96.57. The
median age of those who died from cancer was 68 years and it was higher
for men than women. The age group with the highest cancer mortality rate
was between 61 and 80 years old. Stomach, lung, and liver cancers were
the most common fatal cancers, but their order varied depending on
gender and region of residence. Throughout the entire 15-year period,
the mortality rate for cancer in rural areas was reported as 116.12 per
ten thousand people, while in urban areas it was 82.01. For men and
women, the rates were reported as 111.50 and 81.18 respectively. The
mortality rates for cancers of the esophagus, colon, pancreas, lung,
breast, prostate, bladder and central nervous system were increasing
over time while those for stomach, larynx and cervix were decreasing.
Conclusion: It is of utmost importance to have health plans and policies
in place that focus on preventing, detecting early, and treating cancers
that have high mortality rates. These policies should take into account
factors such as age, gender, and location. As cancer mortality rates
change over time, it is essential to update health policies and
decisions accordingly.