Colorectal Cancer Mortality in Kazakhstan: Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Assessment

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to study the trends in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality in Kazakhstan. METHODS: The retrospective study was done using descriptive and analytical methods of oncoepidemiology. The extensive, crude and age-specific mortality rates are determined according to the generally accepted methodology used in sanitary statistics. RESULTS: CRC mortality in Kazakhstan is considered to be increasing. Therefore, this study (for the period 2009-2018) was undertaken to retrospectively evaluate data across the country available from the central registration bureau. Age standardized data for mortality was generated and compared across age groups. It was determined that during the studied period 15,200 died of this pathology. During the studied years an average age of the dead made 69.8 years (95%CI=69.5-70.0). The average annual standardized mortality rate was 10.2 per 100,000, and in dynamics tended to decrease. Peak of mortality was noted in aged 60-84 years. Trends in age-related mortality rates had a pronounced tendency to increase in 30-34 years (T=+11.7%, R(2)=0.7980) and to decrease in 75-79 years (T=–16.4%, R(2)=0.8881). In many regions, there is a decrease in the number of deaths. During the compilation of cartograms, mortality rates were determined on the basis of standardized indicators: low – up to 8.9, average – from 8.9 to 11.5, high – above 11.5 per 100,000 for the entire population. In addition, all calculations were made taking into account age-sex differences. CONCLUSION: Trends in mortality from CRC in recent years have decreased from 11.2 to 7.7 per 100,000 of the total population, while the trend is stable (T=−3.6%, R(2)=0.8745). The study of regional mortality has theoretical and practical significance: monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of early detection and treatment of detected pathology. Health authorities should take into account the results obtained when organizing anti-cancer measures.