Childhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)

Introduction: Surveillance of childhood cancer incidence trends can inform etiologic research, policy and programs. This study presents the first population-based report on demographic and geographic variations in incidence trends of detailed pediatric diagnostic groups in Canada. Methods: The Canad...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lin Xie, Jay Onysko, Howard Morrison
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Health Agency of Canada 2018-03-01
Series:Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-38-no-3-2018/childhood-cancer-incidence-canada-1992-2010.html
_version_ 1818007738504970240
author Lin Xie
Jay Onysko
Howard Morrison
author_facet Lin Xie
Jay Onysko
Howard Morrison
author_sort Lin Xie
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Surveillance of childhood cancer incidence trends can inform etiologic research, policy and programs. This study presents the first population-based report on demographic and geographic variations in incidence trends of detailed pediatric diagnostic groups in Canada. Methods: The Canadian Cancer Registry data were used to calculate annual age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) from 1992 to 2010 among children less than 15 years of age by sex, age and region for the 12 main diagnostic groups and selected subgroups of the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC), 3rd edition. Temporal trends were examined by annual percent changes (APCs) using Joinpoint regression. Results: The ASIRs of childhood cancer among males increased by 0.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.2–0.9) annually from 1992 to 2010, whereas incidence among females increased by 3.2% (CI = 0.4–6.2) annually since 2004 after an initial stabilization. The largest overall increase was observed in children aged 1–4 years (APC = 0.9%, CI = 0.4–1.3). By region, the overall rates increased the most in Ontario from 2006 to 2010 (APC = 5.9%, CI = 1.9–10.1), and increased non-significantly in the other regions from 1992 to 2010. Average annual ASIRs for all cancers combined from 2006 to 2010 were lower in the Prairies (149.4 per million) and higher in Ontario (170.1 per million). The ASIRs increased for leukemias, melanoma, carcinoma, thyroid cancer, ependymomas and hepatoblastoma for all ages, and neuroblastoma in 1–4 year olds. Astrocytoma decreased in 10–14 year olds (APC = −2.1%, CI = −3.7 to −0.5), and among males (APC = −2.4%, CI = −4.6 to −0.2) and females (APC = −3.7%, CI = −5.8 to −1.6) in Ontario over the study period. Conclusion: Increasing incidence trends for all cancers and selected malignancies are consistent with those reported in other developed countries, and may reflect the changes in demographics and etiological exposures, and artefacts of changes in cancer coding, diagnosis and reporting. Significant decreasing trend for astrocytoma in late childhood was observed for the first time.
first_indexed 2024-04-14T05:19:41Z
format Article
id doaj.art-814160f671b144908e56eaac01a024f7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2368-738X
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-14T05:19:41Z
publishDate 2018-03-01
publisher Public Health Agency of Canada
record_format Article
series Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
spelling doaj.art-814160f671b144908e56eaac01a024f72022-12-22T02:10:15ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2018-03-013837911510.24095/hpcdp.38.3.01stringChildhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)Lin Xie0Jay Onysko1Howard Morrison2Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaPublic Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaPublic Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaIntroduction: Surveillance of childhood cancer incidence trends can inform etiologic research, policy and programs. This study presents the first population-based report on demographic and geographic variations in incidence trends of detailed pediatric diagnostic groups in Canada. Methods: The Canadian Cancer Registry data were used to calculate annual age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) from 1992 to 2010 among children less than 15 years of age by sex, age and region for the 12 main diagnostic groups and selected subgroups of the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC), 3rd edition. Temporal trends were examined by annual percent changes (APCs) using Joinpoint regression. Results: The ASIRs of childhood cancer among males increased by 0.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.2–0.9) annually from 1992 to 2010, whereas incidence among females increased by 3.2% (CI = 0.4–6.2) annually since 2004 after an initial stabilization. The largest overall increase was observed in children aged 1–4 years (APC = 0.9%, CI = 0.4–1.3). By region, the overall rates increased the most in Ontario from 2006 to 2010 (APC = 5.9%, CI = 1.9–10.1), and increased non-significantly in the other regions from 1992 to 2010. Average annual ASIRs for all cancers combined from 2006 to 2010 were lower in the Prairies (149.4 per million) and higher in Ontario (170.1 per million). The ASIRs increased for leukemias, melanoma, carcinoma, thyroid cancer, ependymomas and hepatoblastoma for all ages, and neuroblastoma in 1–4 year olds. Astrocytoma decreased in 10–14 year olds (APC = −2.1%, CI = −3.7 to −0.5), and among males (APC = −2.4%, CI = −4.6 to −0.2) and females (APC = −3.7%, CI = −5.8 to −1.6) in Ontario over the study period. Conclusion: Increasing incidence trends for all cancers and selected malignancies are consistent with those reported in other developed countries, and may reflect the changes in demographics and etiological exposures, and artefacts of changes in cancer coding, diagnosis and reporting. Significant decreasing trend for astrocytoma in late childhood was observed for the first time.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-38-no-3-2018/childhood-cancer-incidence-canada-1992-2010.htmlchildhood cancer, ICCC, age-standardized incidence rate, annual percent change
spellingShingle Lin Xie
Jay Onysko
Howard Morrison
Childhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
childhood cancer, ICCC, age-standardized incidence rate, annual percent change
title Childhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)
title_full Childhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)
title_fullStr Childhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)
title_full_unstemmed Childhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)
title_short Childhood cancer incidence in Canada: demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends (1992–2010)
title_sort childhood cancer incidence in canada demographic and geographic variation of temporal trends 1992 2010
topic childhood cancer, ICCC, age-standardized incidence rate, annual percent change
url https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-38-no-3-2018/childhood-cancer-incidence-canada-1992-2010.html
work_keys_str_mv AT linxie childhoodcancerincidenceincanadademographicandgeographicvariationoftemporaltrends19922010
AT jayonysko childhoodcancerincidenceincanadademographicandgeographicvariationoftemporaltrends19922010
AT howardmorrison childhoodcancerincidenceincanadademographicandgeographicvariationoftemporaltrends19922010