Lung Cancer in Saudi Arabia: Epidemiological Insights From the Past Decade

Background and aim Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although its incidence in Saudi Arabia remains relatively low, shifting smoking patterns, environmental exposures, and demographic changes raise concerns regarding a growing national burden. Population-based epidemiological data are essential to inform prevention and early detection strategies. This study aimed to characterize temporal trends, demographic features, regional distribution, histological subtypes, and stage at diagnosis of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2019. Methods This retrospective registry-based study analyzed aggregate lung cancer data from the Saudi Cancer Registry between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. Cases were stratified by age, sex, region, stage, and histology. Crude and age-standardized incidence rates were calculated, and descriptive analyses were used to assess temporal trends. Results Lung cancer cases increased from 397 in 2010 to 589 in 2019, a 48.4% rise. The crude incidence rate increased from 2.1 to 2.8 per 100,000 population, while the age-standardized incidence rate demonstrated a modest overall increase. Men consistently represented the majority of cases, with a stable male-to-female ratio of approximately 2.8:1. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological subtype (37.5%). Most cases were diagnosed at a distant stage (62.4%). Marked regional variation was observed, with higher incidence rates in the Eastern Region and Riyadh. Conclusions Lung cancer epidemiology in Saudi Arabia parallels global trends, including male predominance, increasing incidence, adenocarcinoma predominance, and late-stage presentation. These findings underscore the need for enhanced tobacco control, environmental risk mitigation, increased awareness, and targeted screening strategies for high-risk populations.