Trends in the incidence of cancer in Kampala, Uganda, 1991 to 2015

Abstract

Trends in the incidence of cancer in the population of Kyadondo County, Uganda—which comprises the city of Kampala and a peri‐urban hinterland—are presented for a period of 25 years (1991‐2015) based on data collected by the Kampala Cancer Registry. Incidence rates have risen overall—age‐adjusted rates are some 25% higher in 2011 to 2015 compared with 1991 to 1995. The biggest absolute increases have been in cancers of the prostate, breast and cervix, with rates of some 100% (prostate), 70% (breast) and 45% (cervix) higher in 2010 to 2015 than in 1991 to 1995. There were also increases in the incidence of cancers of the esophagus and colon‐rectum (statistically significant in men), while the incidence of liver cancer—the fifth most common in this population—increased until 2007, and subsequently declined. By far the most commonly registered cancer over the 25‐year period was Kaposi sarcoma, but the incidence has declined, consistent with the decreasing population‐prevalence of HIV. Non‐Hodgkin lymphomas, also AIDS‐related, increased in incidence until 2006/2007 and then declined—possibly as a result of availability of antiretroviral therapy. The trends reflect the changing lifestyles of this urban African population, as well as the consequences of the epidemic of HIV/AIDS and the availability of treatment with ARVs. At the same time, it highlights the fact that the decreases in cancer of the cervix observed in high and upper‐middle income countries are not a consequence of changes in lifestyle, but demand active intervention through screening (and, in the longer term, vaccination).

Infection-related and lifestyle-related cancer burden in Kampala, Uganda: projection of the future cancer incidence up to 2030

“…Cancer of the cervix uteri has been the most common cancer in Ugandan women since the 1950s 22. A previous study reported that the average increase in Kampala’s cervical cancer incidence rate was 1.5% over 25 years 3. We found that the burden of cervical cancer will remain high in the next decade.…”

“…The global burden of cancer is predicted to rise to nearly 22 million cases and 13 million deaths by 2030, with the major burden on low/middle-income countries 2. Analysis from recent cancer surveillance data shows a gradual increase in the overall incidence of cancer in both sexes in Kampala, Uganda, with an overall increase in age-adjusted rates of 25% in the period of 2011–2015 compared with the period of 1991–1995 3. Even though the most commonly registered cancer over the 25-year period was Kaposi sarcoma (KS), these studies further suggested an increase in prostate, breast and cervical cancers in Uganda 3 4.…”

“…Analysis from recent cancer surveillance data shows a gradual increase in the overall incidence of cancer in both sexes in Kampala, Uganda, with an overall increase in age-adjusted rates of 25% in the period of 2011–2015 compared with the period of 1991–1995 3. Even though the most commonly registered cancer over the 25-year period was Kaposi sarcoma (KS), these studies further suggested an increase in prostate, breast and cervical cancers in Uganda 3 4. Thus, studies to predict and quantify the future burden of these cancer sites are needed.…”

Colorectal Cancer in Uganda: A 10-Year, Facility-Based, Retrospective Study

“…This is rather a higher disease burden compared to that previously reported by Bukirwa et al where the disease incidence was found at 4.1%. 26 This difference in the statistics could be explained by the lack of nationwide screening programs and diagnostic capacities in regional referral hospitals. However, this seems to be a general problem for all LMICs where gaps in detection potentials are reflected in low incidences of CRCs and other cancers.…”

Pattern of Cancer in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital

“…It may also be due to a better health-seeking behaviour of Nigerian females in comparison to their male counterparts, and the relative vibrancy of obstetrics and gynecological unit in many Nigerian tertiary health institutions [22]. Some parts of the world with similar female preponderance of cancer include Ghana, Uganda, United States of America, while in China the reverse is the case [15,[23][24][25].…”