BACKGROUNDTo investigate the incidence of lung cancer and the trend of the incidence in Wuzhou.

METHODSBased on the lung cancer patients' data collected in Wuzhou from 1981 to 2000, statistical analysis of the lung cancer incidence rates was performed, the lung cancer incidence rates for age-groups and for periods of time were calculated, and the incidence rates for different periods were compared. Using standard world populations the standardized incidence rates of lung cancer and the intercept standardized rate were also calculated.

RESULTSThe lung cancer incidence rate was high in Wuzhou. The lung cancer accounted for 21.65% (1 264/5 838) of all cancers. From 1981 to 2000, the incidence rate of lung cancer in Wuzhou increased markedly (P < 0.001); the incidence rate for males increased by 88.43% from 25.33×10⁻⁵ to 47.37×10⁻⁵ ; the rate for females rose by 121.22% from 10.12×10⁻⁵ to 24.66×10⁻⁵ . So was the standardized incidence rate. The median age for the male was 64.5 years old, while the median age for the female was 65.6. 88.8% of the patients were in the age of 55-year-old or more

CONCLUSIONSThe lung cancer incidence rate in Wuzhou is high, and the incidence is significantly increased. Therefore, preventing lung cancer is one of the main cancer prevention tasks in Wuzhou.