Incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in China, 2014

In this study, we aimed to estimate the updated incidence and mortality rate of stomach cancer based on the cancer registration data in 2014, collected by the National Central Cancer Registry of China (NCCRC).

In 2017, 339 registries' data were qualified based on the criteria of data quality control of the NCCRC. Cases of stomach cancer were retrieved from the national database. We estimated numbers of stomach cancer cases and deaths in China using age-specific rates and corresponding national population stratified by area, sex, age-group (0, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14, …, 85+). Chinese standard population in 2000 and Segi's world population were applied for age-standardized incidence and mortality rates.

In 2014, 410,400 new stomach cancer cases and 293,800 cancer-associated deaths were estimated to have occurred in China. The crude incidence rate of stomach cancer was 30.00/100,000, age-standardized incidence rates by Chinese standard population (ASIRC) and by world standard population (ASIRW) were 19.62/100,000 and 19.51/100,000, respectively. The crude mortality rate of stomach cancer was 21.48/100,000, age-standardized mortality rates by Chinese (ASMRC) and by world standard population (ASMRW) were 13.44/100,000 and 13.30/100,000, respectively. Incidence and mortality rates in rural areas were both higher than that in urban areas. Stomach cancer has a strong relationship with gender and age. The disease has occurred more frequently among men than women with a male to female ratio of 2.4 for ASIRC. After age group of 40-44 years, incidence rates are substantially higher in men than in women, same pattern was seen for age-specific mortality rates.

There is still a heavy burden of stomach cancer in China. The incidence and mortality patterns of stomach cancer show substantial gender and regional disparities. Great effort is needed to provide more accessible health services, sufficient financial resources, and adequate cancer-care infrastructure for the Chinese population, especially for people living in rural areas.