Gallbladder cancer incidence in Delhi urban: A 25-year trend analysis

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) falls into the top ten leading cancer sites in urban Delhi. The incidence of GBC in females is more than that among males worldwide. The present study evaluates the temporal variation of GBC incidence in an urban Delhi population.

The 25-year GBC incidence data were obtained from Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) of Delhi which covered nearly 97.5% of the population and 75% of Delhi. We applied joinpoint regression method to determine the trend of GBC incidence from 1988 to 2012. The estimated cumulative risk (0-74) and lifetime risk of developing GBC were also calculated.

GBC contributed 6% of total cancer cases in Delhi during the year 2012. In the past 25 years, 12,410 GBC cases (4010 males and 8400 females) were registered and contributed approximately 3% of male cancer cases and 6.5% of female cancer cases. The median age at diagnosis of GBC was 60.13 years and 57.22 years in males and females, respectively. Joinpoint analysis showed an overall increasing trend of age-adjusted rates of GBC incidence over 25 years. In females, a downward trend was observed during 1992-2004, whereas in males, the trend remained consistent during 1991-2005; however, thereafter, it started significant increasing for both the genders. Age-specific trend of GBC also reflects an increasing trend among males and females after 2004.

The total and age-specific GBC cases have show an increasing trend in the past 25 years in urban Delhi. Stringent steps are required to control the modifiable risk factors for reducing the incidence of GBC in Delhi. In addition, individuals should also practice a healthy lifestyle to reduce the likelihood of GBC as well as other diseases.