title: Epidemiology of lung cancer in Sardinia, Italy, from 1980 to 1996.
abstract: METHODS
  Bronchial carcinoma is the most common cause of death among all malignant tumours. Despite a progressive increase, many Italian regions--ours included--do not have a Regional Cancer Registry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess lung cancer incidence and mortality rates in Sardinia during the period 1980-1996.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were gathered by consulting hospital registers and the case notes of individual patients released from hospital with a diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma at all Sardinian medical centres between 1980 and 1996.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 7734 patients with lung cancer were registered in Sardinia between 1980 and 1996. Data showed a steady increase in lung cancer incidence rates over the years (from 22.3/100000 in 1980 to 34.5 in 1996). The same increase was evident in mortality rates (from 25.7/100000 in 1980 to 42.9 in 1996). The increase in mortality rates was higher in women (+146%) than in men (+59.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results show a slow but steady increase in lung cancer incidence and mortality rates in Sardinia. The high number of smokers among lung cancer patients seems to indicate that anti-smoking campaigns need to be more effective in Sardinia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Disease, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. pirina@uniss.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pirina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ostera
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoru
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Ginesu
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fois
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deiola
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Sardu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Padua
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ginesu
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology