[The EpicliCP-2003 study: A multicenter epidemiological and clinical study of lung cancer in Spain]. / Estudio multicéntrico epidemiológico-clínico de cáncer de pulmón en España (estudio EpicliCP-2003).

OBJECTIVE: Mortality due to lung cancer in Spain is increasing continuously. The aim of the present study was to collect information on the hospital incidence of lung cancer, as well as information on clinical management, in different regions of Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study of patients diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003 was carried out in 13 centers in 9 autonomous communities. Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic variables were assessed. RESULTS: Of a total population of 2,726,601 inhabitants (1 346 483 men and 1 380 118 women), 1064 male and 125 female lung cancer patients were included. The incidence standardized to the world population varied between 42.4/100,000 and 61.8/100,000 in men and between 1.5/100,000 and 8.6/100,000 in women. Overall, 51% were aged over 70 years, and 97.5% of the men and 32% of the women were smokers or ex-smokers. Cytologic or histologic confirmation was obtained for 93.1% of the cases (20.8% of which were small cell lung cancers and 79.2% were non-small cell lung cancers). The main initial symptoms were cough, chest pain, and weight loss. In 13.7%, lung cancer was suspected because of abnormal chest x-ray. The percentage with clinical TNM stages I and II ranged from 6.3% to 26.9%. The most common stage was stage IV in all centers. The percentage of patients undergoing surgery ranged from 2.5% to 20.6%, with a mean of 14.8% (19.9% of whom were patients with non-small cell lung cancer); 27% received palliative treatment only. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of women suffering from lung cancer increased with respect to previous studies, with notable differences among regions. Despite diagnostic improvements, the percentage of patients undergoing surgery is low, though interregional variation is considerable.

Estudio multicéntrico epidemiológico-clínico de cáncer de pulmón en España (estudio EpicliCP-2003) / The EpicliCP-2003 Study: a multicenter epidemiological and clinical study of lung cancer in Spain

Objetivo: La mortalidad por cáncer de pulmón en España aumenta ininterrumpidamente. El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido conocer su incidencia hospitalaria, así como otros datos de manejo clínico, en varias regiones españolas. Material y métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio prospectivo observacional de los pacientes diagnosticados de cáncer de pulmón en 2003 en 13 centros de 9 comunidades autónomas. Se evaluaron variables epidemiológicas, clínicas, diagnósticas y terapéuticas. Resultados: Se han registrado 1.064 varones y 125 mujeres correspondientes a una población total de 2.726.601 habitantes (1.346.483 varones y 1.380.118 mujeres). Las tasas estandarizadas según población mundial variaron entre 42,4 y 61,8/100.000 en varones y entre 1,5 y 8,6/100.000 en mujeres. El 51% tenía más de 70 años. El 97,5% de los varones y el 32% de las mujeres eran fumadores o ex fumadores. Se obtuvo confirmación citohistológica en el 93,1% de los casos (un 20,8% microcíticos y un 79,2% no microcíticos). Los síntomas iniciales predominantes fueron tos, dolor torácico y pérdida de peso. En el 13,7% el diagnóstico se sospechó sólo por anormalidad radiológica. La proporción de estadios TNM clínicos I y II varió entre el 6,3 y el 26,9%. El estadio IV fue el más común en todos los centros. La tasa de intervenciones varió entre el 2,5 y el 20,6%; el promedio fue del 14,8% (un 19,9% del total de no microcíticos). El 27,0% sólo recibió medidas paliativas. Conclusiones: Entre los casos de cáncer de pulmón aumenta la proporción de mujeres con respecto a estudios previos, con notables diferencias interregionales. Pese a las mejoras diagnósticas, la tasa de intervenciones, muy variable entre diferentes centros, es muy baja

Objective: Mortality due to lung cancer in Spain is increasing continuously. The aim of the present study was to collect information on the hospital incidence of lung cancer, as well as information on clinical management, in different regions of Spain. Material and methods: A prospective observational study of patients diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003 was carried out in 13 centers in 9 autonomous communities. Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic variables were assessed. Results: Of a total population of 2 726 601 inhabitants (1 346 483 men and 1 380 118 women), 1064 male and 125 female lung cancer patients were included. The incidence standardized to the world population varied between 42.4/100 000 and 61.8/100 000 in men and between 1.5/100 000 and 8.6/100 000 in women. Overall, 51% were aged over 70 years, and 97.5% of the men and 32% of the women were smokers or ex-smokers. Cytologic or histologic confirmation was obtained for 93.1% of the cases (20.8% of which were small cell lung cancers and 79.2% were non-small cell lung cancers). The main initial symptoms were cough, chest pain, and weight loss. In 13.7%, lung cancer was suspected because of abnormal chest x-ray. The percentage with clinical TNM stages I and II ranged from 6.3% to 26.9%. The most common stage was stage IV in all centers. The percentage of patients undergoing surgery ranged from 2.5% to 20.6%, with a mean of 14.8% (19.9% of whom were patients with non-small cell lung cancer); 27% received palliative treatment only. Conclusions: The proportion of women suffering from lung cancer increased with respect to previous studies, with notable differences among regions. Despite diagnostic improvements, the percentage of patients undergoing surgery is low, though interregional variation is considerable