Trend and Joinpoint Analysis of Cancer Incidence and 1-Year Mortality in North-East Spain 2005–2020

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death. It is thus essential to examine cancer trends in all regions. In addition, trend data after 2019 and on cancer 1-year mortality are scarce. Our aim was to analyze incidence and 1-year mortality cancer trends in northeastern Spain during 2005–2020. We used the Osona Tumor Registry, which registers cancer incidence and mortality in Osona. The mortality information came from the Spanish Death Index. We analyzed age-standardized incidence rates and 1-year mortality by sex in the population aged > 17 years during 2005–2020. Trends were examined with negative binomial and joinpoint regression. Incidence rates of colorectal, lung and bronchus, and urinary bladder cancer increased annually in females by 2.86%, 4.20%, and 4.56%, respectively. In males, the incidence of stomach and prostate cancer decreased annually by 3.66% and 2.05%, respectively. One-year mortality trends decreased annually for endometrium cancer (−9.0%) and for colorectal cancer in males (−3.1%). From 2019 to 2020, the incidence of cancer decreased, while 1-year mortality increased in both sexes. In a North-Eastern Spanish county, 1-year mortality decreased for endometrium cancer in females and for colorectal cancer in males. Our results suggest a trend of decreasing cancer incidence and increasing cancer mortality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.