Regional Differences in Colorectal Cancer Mortality Between 2000 and 2013 in Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common site for cancer death in the Republic of Korea. The aim of this study was to describe the trends of colorectal cancer mortality by region. METHODS: CRC mortality trends in Republic of Korea were described by region using a Joinpoint regression model in both sexes. The annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated for each segment. Visualization of the changes in mortality rate of colorectal cancer death rates by 16 geographic areas in both sexes between 2000–2004 and 2009–2013 were also conducted. RESULTS: CRC mortality rates of men showed decreasing trend after increase in Daegu, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Chungcheongbuk-do between 2000 and 2013 based on the joinpoint model, while Gwangju, Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do showed increase in CRC mortality during the same period. For women, CRC mortality of Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, and Gyeongsangnam-do started to decrease in 2005, 2003, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The mortality rate for CRC in the eastern regions, which had relatively low rates of CRC among men in 2000 through 2004, reached a level similar to that in the northwestern regions of 2009 through 2013, while the highest CRC mortality rates in women was observed in Chungcheongbuk-do. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in CRC mortality varied across 16 metropolitan cities and provinces in men, and the visualization pattern showed that the east side of South Korea had the least progress in mortality reduction.