Colorectal Cancer Prevalence According to Survival Data in Iran-2007

Farzaneh Esna-Ashari, MD, Mohammad Reza Sohrabi, MD, Alireza Abadi, MD, Abas Ali Mehrabian, MD, Bahram Mofid, MD, Mehrdad Bohluli, MD, Mohammad Esmaeil Akbari, MD. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences

Background: Colorectal cancer is a common (5000 new cases per year in Iran) and lethal disease. Regarding the high incidence (7 cases per 100000) and survival rate of colorectal cancer and the priority of prevalence index in cancer management, in this study, 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year point prevalence were determined according to survival data.

Methods: In this study, survival and incidence data were used for the determination of cancer prevalence. Incidence data were extracted from cancer registry in Iran and survival data were determined during a descriptive study through the follow up of 2342 colorectal cancer patients. 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year point prevalence were estimated from incidence rates in different years and the proportion of patients surviving 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 year(s) from diagnosis.

Results: Proportion of cases surviving 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 year(s) from diagnosis were 79.2%, 65.08%, 57.36%, 51.76% and 48.87%, respectively. Estimates of 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year prevalence were 4156, 5715 and 4283, respectively. The cumulative 5 year prevalence was 13954 cases.

Conclusion: These estimates of 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year prevalence are applicable to the evaluation of initial treatment, clinical follow-up and point of cure, respectively. Therefore, 1, 2-3 and 4-5 year point prevalence estimates are necessary in health service planning for cancer management.

Keywords: prevalence; colorectal; cancer;Iran