Karachi Cancer Registry (KCR): Age-Standardized Incidence Rate by Age-Group and Gender in a Mega City of Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the cancer incidence by age group and gender for the population of Karachi Division by analyzing the Karachi Cancer Registry data of 2017-19. Settings: The population of Karachi division is 16.1 million according to national census 2017. 'Karachi Cancer Registry' which is a part of 'National Cancer Registry' is collecting data from eight major hospitals in Karachi since 2017. For outcome measures, cancer counts and the age standardized incidence rates (ASIR) per 100,000 population were computed for age groups (0-14, 15-19 and ≥20 years), in both genders and all cancer site/type. Methods: The population denominators were based on the population of Karachi division estimated at 16.1 million in the population census, 2017. Counts and age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) were calculated for each of the three age categories. Results: From Jan 2017 till Dec 2019 a total of 33,309 malignant cases were recorded in KCR database comprising 17,490 (52.5%) females and 15,819 (47.5%) males. ASIRs in age groups 0-14, 15-19 and ≥ 20 years, among female were 11.5, 2.4 and 223.6 and in males were 17.6, 3.2 and 216.7 respectively. The commonest diagnosis in children, adolescent and adults were (1) among females: children; bone (3.12), leukemia (2.09) brain/CNS (1.26); in adolescents: bone (0.78), brain/CNS (0.27), connective and soft tissue (0.11), in adults: breast cancer (76.07), oral cancer (16.68) and ovary (10.89) respectively, and (2) among males: children; bone (4.56), leukemia (2.79) and brain/CNS (1.88); in adolescent; bone (1.19), brain/CNS (0.31) and leukemia (0.21) and in adults: oral cancer (42.83), liver (16.10) and bone (13.37) respectively. Conclusion: Oral Cancer, a largely preventable cancer is the leading cancer in Karachi adult males while in female adults Breast Cancer is the leading cancer followed by Oral Cancer. In children and adolescents Bone, Leukemia and Brain/CNS malignancies are most common.

Cancer in Lahore, Pakistan, 2010–2019: an incidence study

“…Recent results for the Karachi division in Pakistan, representing a population of nearly 16 million, show a preponderance of tobacco-related cancers and breast malignancies among adults. 4 The ASIR for oral cancers was 42.8 in adult males and 76.1 for breast cancer among adult females, whereas bone tumours and leukaemia were common in children and young adults. 4 A high ASIR for oral cancers is attributed to excessive consumption of naswar (a powdered form of tobacco), used intranasally or buccally.…”

“… 4 The ASIR for oral cancers was 42.8 in adult males and 76.1 for breast cancer among adult females, whereas bone tumours and leukaemia were common in children and young adults. 4 A high ASIR for oral cancers is attributed to excessive consumption of naswar (a powdered form of tobacco), used intranasally or buccally. 4 …”

“… 4 A high ASIR for oral cancers is attributed to excessive consumption of naswar (a powdered form of tobacco), used intranasally or buccally. 4 …”

“…A recent report on cancer incidence in the Karachi division for 2017-2019 has shown that the data were collected from eight centres of Karachi, which has a population of nearly 16 million, and that tobacco-related malignancies and breast cancer were the most common diagnoses. 4 However, this report does not mention any problems related to the functioning of the Registry. Further, two reports representing the time periods 2010-2019 and 2010-2015 from a hospital-based Strengths and limitations of this study ► As part of cancer surveillance, this is the first time that the age-standardised incidence rates have been presented for any region of Pakistan, over an extended 10-year period.…”

Revival of Cancer Registration in Karachi, Pakistan

“…More recently, another report from the Dow Cancer Registry detailed cancer patterns in Karachi during 2010-2019(Qureshi et al, 2020. Importantly, revival of the KCR was announced in a recent report which describes cancer patterns in Karachi during 2017 -2019(Pervez et al, 2020. It is important to mention there that after Dr. Bhurgri's death, this is the first notable report from the platform of the KCR and thus a considerable step towards establishing cancer registration in Karachi.…”