Spatio-Temporal Study of Gastric Cancer Incidence in Kermanshah Province, Iran During the Years 2009-2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stomach cancer is the second common and the most deadly type of cancer in Iranian populations. The pattern of this cancer varies in different populations; demonstrating association with environmental, racial, and geographical factors. The focus of this study was to identify the clustering and the high-risk and low-risk regions for stomach cancer by using spatio-temporal analysis in Kermanshah province during 2009-2014. METHOD: All new cases of stomach cancer were studied by census method in 2009 to end 2014 in Kermanshah province. The required information and statistics (address, age, and sex) of patients were extracted from the cancer registry system of Vice-Chancellor in health affairs, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Also, with having the location, diagnosis time, and counting information of all age groups of stomach cancer patients, the spatially and temporally abnormal places of clustering were identified with the use of saTScan and GIS. RESULTS: the total number of stomach cancer subjects during the period of study was 1040, with a mean age of 66.5± 1. in addition, 11 regions (located in 1(st), 2(nd), and 3(rd) municipal districts) demonstrated abnormal Spatio-temporal pattern of stomach cancer incidence (hot spots) and clustered disease, with 5 regions (in 4(th) and 5(th) districts) representing lower chance of clustering (cold spots, p value<0.05). CONCLUSION: Given the growing rate of stomach cancer incidence in specific geographical areas and, its high potential of mortality, and the possible relationship with environmental variables (e.g. climate variables); the efforts need to be focused on the identification of hot/cold spots, the predisposing factors, and the possible clusters in the affected areas.