Epidemiologic status of bladder cancer in Shiraz, Southern Iran

Background: Bladder cancer is the second most common malignancy of the genitourinary tract worldwide after prostate cancer. However, in Iran it is the most common cancer of the genitourinary system and the third most common cancer in males. The increasing trend in bladder cancer incidence in recent decades, along with the lack of research on this malignancy in Iran, make epidemiologic research important in light of its preventability through early recognition and limiting exposure to risk factors. The present study aimed to assess the epidemiology of bladder cancer in Shiraz, a large city in southern Iran, during a 2-year period. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the population-based cancer registry of the Vice-Chancellery for Health Affairs of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Shiraz hospitals between March 1, 2007 and March 1, 2009. Demographic, clinical and pathological aspects of 216 patients with bladder cancer were investigated through careful review of their medical records. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: We analyzed data for 179 (82.9%) men and 37 (17.1%) women (mean age of 65.1±12.7 years). Tobacco and opium use were found in 109 (65.3%) and 44 (34.1%) patients, respectively. Cigarette smokers and water pipe smokers were mostly men (P=0.001 and P=0.04, respectively). The most common type of tumor was transitional cell carcinoma (95.7%) and most tumors were of low malignant potential grade (39.7%). Nearly half of the patients suffered recurrence. Conclusion: Comparisons with previous studies showed that bladder cancer tends to appear slightly more often in the elderly and that the tumors tend to have a higher grade of malignancy in our region. There is a need for more epidemiologic studies on the trends in the incidence and other epidemiologic indices.