title: Trends in the lung cancer incidence and mortality in the Slovak and Czech Republics in the contexts of an international comparison.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer represents the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in the industrialized countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the lung cancer incidence and mortality and the possible reasons for any differences discovered in two neighboring Central European countries-the Slovak Republic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used linear regression model when analyzing incidence and mortality; the trends are presented with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p-value with null hypothesis being constant with time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant increase of age-standardized incidence (0.707/100,000/year, 95% CI 0.107-1.307, p = 0,025) and mortality (1.339/100,000/year, 95% CI 1.050-1.629, p < 0.0001) of the lung cancer was revealed in males in the Slovak Republic (1980-1991). On the contrary, values of both indicators were stabilized in the Czech Republic. Since year 1991-2005 a statistically highly significant decrease of both incidence and mortality values was observed in males, which was greater in the Slovak Republic. Peak of the curve was not reached in women population, while incidence and mortality values have significantly continuous growth in both countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the lung cancer incidence and mortality trends in both countries (in correlation with smoking prevalence) we consider the support of efforts to change the attitude towards smoking predominantly in women and younger generation to be the most accurate action to reduce these trends.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. martina.ondrusova@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ondrusova
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muzik
authors.forename: Lubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hunakova
authors.forename: Bela
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belohorska
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomek
authors.forename: Dalibor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ondrus
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kavcova
mesh_terms: D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality