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Kidney Cancer in Canada: The Rapidly Increasing Incidence of Adenocarcinoma in Adults and Seniors

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Abstract

Purpose: To examine kidney cancer incidence and mortality patterns since 1969 in Canada.

Method: Linear regression of the log rates was used to estimate secular trends by age group and sex, and age-period-cohort models were fitted to examine changes in kidney cancer and renal adenocarcinoma incidence rates.

Results: A substantial increase in incidence rates was observed among those 35 years and older, with average increases of 2.5% or more annually for both sexes. Age-period-cohort modelling suggested that much of this increase resulted from a period effect. Changes in mortality were much more modest, especially among those aged 0–34, for whom mortality rates actually declined by an average of 4.2% and 5.4% annually for males and females respectively.

Conclusions: Kidney cancer incidence rates have increased significantly, especially renal adenocarcinoma among adults and seniors. Diagnostic improvements and increasing levels of obesity in the Canadian population may have contributed to these trends.

Résumé

Objectif: Étudier l’incidence du cancer du rein et les tendances de la mortalité au Canada depuis 1969.

Méthode: La régression linéaire des logarithmes de taux a été utilsée pour estimer les tendances générales en fonction des groupes d’âge et de sexe. Des modèles de cohorte par âge ont été ajustés en vue d’étudier la variation des taux d’incidence du cancer du rein et de l’adénocarci-nome rénal.

Résultats: L’étude a révélé une augmentation importante du taux d’incidence chez les personnes âgées de 35 ans et plus. L’augmentation moyenne est de 2,5 % par an ou plus pour les deux sexes. Cette modélisation semble indiquer que l’augmentation des taux est due avant tout à un effet lié à des périodes. Les variations des taux de mortalité étaient beaucoup moins importantes, surtout chez les personnes âgées de 0 à 34 ans. Dans cette tranche d’âge, le taux de mortalité a diminué en moyenne de 4,2 % par an chez les hommes et de 5,4 % par an chez les femmes.

Conclusions: Les taux d’incidence du cancer du rein ont augmenté de façon significative, surtout ceux de l’adénocarcinome rénal chez les personnes d’âge moyen et les personnes âgées. Il est possible que de meilleures méthodes diagnostiques et un accroissement de l’obésité dans la population canadienne aient influé sur les tendances observées.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bureau of Cancer, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada, Tunney’s Pasture Postal locator: 0601C1, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0L2, Canada

    Shiliang Liu MB, PhD, Robert Semenciw Msc, Howard Morrison PhD, Dena Schanzer Msc &  Yang Mao PhD

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  1. Shiliang Liu MB, PhD
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  2. Robert Semenciw Msc
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  3. Howard Morrison PhD
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  4. Dena Schanzer Msc
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  5. Yang Mao PhD
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Liu, S., Semenciw, R., Morrison, H. et al. Kidney Cancer in Canada: The Rapidly Increasing Incidence of Adenocarcinoma in Adults and Seniors. Can J Public Health 88, 99–104 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403870

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403870

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