The Epidemiology of Lung Cancer in Lebanon During ۲۰۱۴

Background and aims: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. There are no recent data on the lung cancer prevalence in Lebanon, and the available data are based on prediction. Thus, this study aimed to determine the incidence rate of lung cancer during ۲۰۱۴, among patients who were newly diagnosed at Lebanese teaching hospitals. In addition, the study attempted to identify the associated risk factors of lung cancer, the most common presenting symptoms at the diagnosis time, and the stage at which the majority of the patients were diagnosed at the targeted population. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in many teaching hospitals affiliated to the Lebanese University in Lebanon in ۲۰۱۶. Results: The lung cancer incidence was ۲۲۱.۹ per ۱۰۰ ۰۰۰ in ۲۰۱۴. Most patients aged ۶۰ years and over and as regards gender distribution, the majority of them included men. Further, more than half of the patients had the (COPD) and ۹۷% of patients had symptoms at their presentation. Based on the results, ۵۷.۹% of them had stage IV lung cancer, but only ۱۲% were diagnosed at the stage IA. Furthermore, ۸۰.۶% and ۱۶.۴% of patients had non-small and small cell lung cancer, respectively. Finally, ۷۵.۴% and ۱۲.۱% of them were treated with chemotherapy and underwent surgery, respectively, while ۵.۲% of patients had radiotherapy. Conclusion: The findings of our study showed a higher incidence rate of lung cancer since ۲۰۰۸ which was diagnosed more commonly in men and with the patient’s history of COPD. Eventually, the diagnosis was mostly made at a later stage with non-small cell lung cancer that was the most common histology type.

Keywords:

Lung cancer , Epidemiology , Lebanon