[Analysis on incidence for cervical cancer in Qidong during 1972 - 2000]

To investigate the trends of incidence for cervical cancer in the years of 1973 - 2000, in Qidong, a city in south China, with a population of 1.16 M.

Crude incidence rate of cervical cancer was calculated by using incident case data from Qidong Cancer Registry, which was founded in 1972, and age-standardized rates were computed according to China age structure of 1964 (CASR), and world age structure of 1960 (WASR). The epidemiological features and secular change trends of the cancer were described.

Six hundred and thirty-one new cases of cervical cancer were reported in Qidong during the years of 1973 to 2000, ranking the eighth and accounting for 3.25% among all sites of cancers in women. The crude annual incidence rate during the period was 3.96 per 100,000 on average, China age-standardized rate (CASR) was 2.67 per 100,000, and world age-standardized rate (WASR), 3.66 per 100,000. The incidence of cervical cancer was 2.97 per 100,000 for the last 14 years, and 5.01 per 100,000 for the first 14 years, showing a decreasing trend (P < 0.01). Age-specific rates showed that the incidents among those aged over 55 in the recent 14 years were markedly lower than that in the first 14 year period (P < 0.01).

Qidong is a relatively low incidence area of cervical cancer, with a decreasing trend among aged women, according to population-based cancer registration data. This incidence data on cervical cancer could be used as a base for strategic treatment and prevention of the disease.