title: [Survival of patients with lung cancer in Lithuania (1995-1997)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study is aimed to evaluate the survival of lung cancer patients diagnosed in Lithuania 1995-1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on Cancer registry material, 4337 of 4746 new lung cancer cases were included into the study group. Only cases with primary lung cancer were included into the study; cases at autopsy and death certificate only cases were excluded from the study. The closing date of follow-up was June 30, 2002. At that time 3966 (91.4%) patients of the study group died, 339 (7.8%) survived and 32 (0.7%) were lost on follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative five-year survival rate was estimated to be 9.0% for male and 18.3% for female. Cox proportional hazard modeling has indicated tha females had better survival than males (RH(female)=0.84, 0.76-0.92). Males living in large cities had better prognosis than other urban or rural patients (RH(towns)=1.18, 1.09-1.27, RH(rural)=1.27, 1.17-1.40). Elder patients (75 and older, both women and men) had worse survival than those at age of 64-74. Annual relative rates were improving on follow-up and exceeded 90% of population level for women at the third year (men at fifth year) and has dropped down at the sixth year of observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to European survival rates, one-year and five-year survival of patients with lung cancer in Lithuania is lower than European average for men, and alike for women. Recent high mortality/incidence ratio does not allow predict an increase of survival rates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Juozas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurtinaitis
authors.forename: Algirdas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackevicius
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012042:Registries; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014505:Urban Population
vernacular_title: Serganciuju plauciu veziu isgyvenamumas Lietuvoje (1995-1997).