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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2013; 19(7): 979-983
Published online Feb 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i7.979
Colorectal cancer mortality in Hong Kong of China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore
Aesun Shin, Kyu-Won Jung, Young-Joo Won
Aesun Shin, Kyu-Won Jung, Young-Joo Won, Cancer Registration and Statistics Branch, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 410-769, South Korea
Aesun Shin, Molecular Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Goyang-si 410-769, South Korea
Author contributions: Shin A contributed to the study design, literature review, manuscript writing, and final revision of the article; Jung KW contributed to the study design, data analysis and critical revision of the manuscript; Won YJ contributed to the study design, and critical revision of the manuscript.
Supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, No. 2010-0010276; A Research Grant from the National Cancer Center of Korea, No. 1010160
Correspondence to: Kyu-Won Jung, Branch Chief, Cancer Registration and Statistics Branch, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsanro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 410-769, South Korea. ara@ncc.re.kr
Telephone: +82-31-9202170 Fax: +82-31-9202179
Received: September 19, 2012
Revised: January 8, 2013
Accepted: January 23, 2013
Published online: February 21, 2013
Processing time: 155 Days and 18 Hours
Abstract

To clarify the trend in colorectal cancer mortality in Asian countries. We analyzed the colorectal cancer mortality in four Asian countries using the World Health Organization mortality database and the Korea National Statistics Office database. The annual age-standardized rates and truncated rated for the three age groups (30-49, 50-69 and ≥ 70 years) for Hong Kong of China (1969-2009), Japan (1955-2009), South Korea (1985-2006), and Singapore (1966-2009) were estimated. A joinpoint regression model was used to detect significant trends in mortality rates. Colorectal cancer mortality in men started to decrease in 1992 in Japan followed by Singapore and Hong Kong of China in 1995. The mortality rates in women stared to decrease in 1980 in Singapore, followed by Hong Kong of China and Japan in 1996. In all countries and both genders, except for women in Singapore, the decrease in mortality began in the younger age groups. The colorectal cancer mortality in the four studied Asian countries has started to decrease, and the decrease occurred first in the younger age groups.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Mortality; Joinpoint regression; Trends; Early detection of cancer; Mass screening