[Evaluation of the cancer co-pay fee exemption data source (048 code) to estimate cancer incidence]. / Valutazione del flusso delle esenzioni ticket per neoplasia (codice 048) per stimare l'incidenza dei tumori.

OBJECTIVES: to assess whether the data source of cancer exemption ticket (code 048) correctly estimate the cancer incidence produced by Cancer registries (CR). DESIGN: comparison between incidence estimates produced by cancer exemptions ticket and cases registered by CR. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: six CRs provided incidence data for one year in the five-year period from 2007 to 2011 and for the previous five years, the exemptions provided for the same year and for the previous five years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: incidence distribution by gender, age and tumour site, exemptions 048/incident cancers ratio, and trend estimates. RESULTS: out of 14,586 patients with 048 exemption, a first group was present in the CR database in the same reference year (No. 8,015) and a second group in the previous 6 months (No. 1,696). Of the remaining 4,875, only 2,771 were prevalent cases and 2,104 were manually re-valued: 514 non-cancer; 710 non-malignant/noninfiltrating tumours, 250 non-residents, 532 unknown, and 98 lost at CR. The exemption/ tumours ratio was 32%in males and 37% in females. Out of 27,632 cancer patients in CR, only 29% had a 048 exemption. Among linked cases, there is a case-mix problem: the exemptions overestimated the weight of some cancer sites (breast, prostate), but underestimate the weight of other sites (stomach, liver, lung) and the burden of tumours in the elderly.The trend estimated from the exemptions underestimates the true incidence of tumours and presents fluctuations, because of local administrative and organisational issues. CONCLUSIONS: the 048 codes are an accessory source for CRs, but when used as single flow they are not able to estimate the true incidence of tumours and, therefore, do not provide useful information on cancer trends.

Estimates of cancer burden in Lazio.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Since 1983 a population-based cancer registry has been operating in Lazio which provides incidence and survival data and covers the entire Latina province, amounting to 10% of the regional population. The aim of this paper is to provide estimates of the incidence, mortality and prevalence for seven major cancers in the Lazio region for the period 1970-2015. METHODS: The estimates were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data. Survival was modeled on the basis of published data from the Italian cancer registries. RESULTS: In 2012 the most frequent cancer sites were breast, colon-rectum and prostate with 5,529, 5,315 and 4,759 new diagnosed cases, respectively. The cancers with increasing incidence trends were breast cancer, lung cancer and skin melanoma in women, and prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma in men. The incidence rates of uterine cervix and stomach cancer decreased. The male lung cancer rates increased, reaching a peak in the late 1980s, and then decreased. Prevalence increased for all the considered cancers except cervix cancer. In 2012 breast, colorectal and prostate cancer had the highest prevalence, with 68,239, 36,617 and 33,934 prevalent cases, respectively. In the final period of the study the mortality declined for all cancers except female lung cancer. In 2012, the highest mortality rates were estimated for lung cancer in both men and women, with 89 and 40 deaths per 100,000, respectively. CONCLUSION: These estimates give a useful description of the present and future cancer patterns in the Lazio region. Incidence, mortality and prevalence projections provide new information for health resource planning. Furthermore, they point to the need to reinforce the organized screening programs, especially for breast and colorectal cancer.

Estimates of cancer burden in Puglia.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: A regional population-based cancer registry that provides incidence and survival data has become active only recently. Since it is important to know the time trends of basic epidemiological indicators to understand the cancer burden in the region, this paper will provide incidence, prevalence and mortality estimates in the region for seven major cancers for the period 1970-2015. METHODS: The estimates were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data. Survival was modeled on the basis of published data from the Italian cancer registries. RESULTS: The incidence rates are estimated to be still increasing for female breast cancer, colorectal cancer in men and skin melanoma in both sexes. By contrast, the incidence rates indicate a decreasing trend for cervix uteri cancer and stomach cancer, the latter both in men and women. For these cancers an analogous trend is observed for mortality, confirming the reduction of the risk factors related to these cancer types. The incidence rates for lung cancer and prostate cancer in men were estimated to rise, reach a peak, and then decrease in the last part of the considered period. Prevalence increased for all the considered cancers except cervix cancer. The increase was striking for breast cancer and less pronounced for stomach cancer in both genders. CONCLUSION: This paper provides a description of the burden of the major cancers until 2015. The results highlight the need to reinforce effective preventive measures to contrast cancers related to an unhealthy lifestyle and to increase the compliance with organized screening programs to reduce the colorectal and breast cancer burden.