Stability Over Time Of High Incidence Bladder Cancer In An Industrialized Area In North-Eastern Spain. A Longitudinal Study In A Region Of 400,000 Inhabitants.
Abstract Purpose: To study whether the incidence of bladder cancer in an industrialized area in North-Eastern Spain remains as high as in the nineties.Methods: Patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed primary bladder cancer, during 2018-2019, in an area in North-Eastern Spain (430,883 inhabitants) were included. Crude incidence rates were estimated per 100,000 person-year based on the number of individuals getting their first diagnosis. Direct age-standardized incidence rates were calculated applying both the European and the World Standard Populations.Results: 295 patients were included (mean age 72.5±10.3 years; 89.8% men). The crude rate was 62.6 (95%CI:55.0-70.1) for men and 6.8 (95%CI:4.4-9.3) for women. The annual rate adjusted to the European Standard Population was 85.3 (95%CI:75.0-95.5) for men and 7.0 (95%CI:4.5-9.5) for women, and adjusted to the World Standard Population, 31.7 (95%CI:27.9-35.5) and 2.9 (95%CI:1.8-3.9) respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of bladder cancer in this area in North-Eastern Spain is one of the highest in men and one of the lowest in women, both in Europe and Worldwide. The decrease in the industrial activity has not led to a decrease in bladder cancer incidence. The heterogeneity of bladder cancer registries in terms of definition and inclusion criteria makes it difficult to compare results.