Epidemiology of Different Types of Cancers Reported in Basra, Iraq

Objectives: This study aimed to report the incidence and pattern of various types of cancers and their distribution across various demographic groups in Basra, Iraq. Methods: Cancer cases recorded during 2017 at the Basra Cancer Control Centre, the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, the Basra Oncology and Hematology Centre, the Basra Children’s Hospital and at private laboratories were included in the study. Patients’ records were analysed for information related to age, gender, residence and type of cancer. Incidences for different geographical regions and distribution of incidences across age groups were recorded as percentages. The mean age was recorded for patients of different genders and age groups. Incidence rates per 100,000 were calculated for different types of cancer. Results: A total of 2,163 cancer cases were identified of which 2,020 were in adults (93.4%) and 143 were in children (6.6%). Among adults, most cancers were found in females (59%). Patients’ mean age at diagnosis was 51.4 ± 19.6 years for adults and 6.4 ± 4.23 years for children. Cancer incidence rates per 100,000 people increased with age. Breast cancer was the most frequent cancer type found in adult females, with an incidence rate of 60.64 per 100,000 people. The most common types of cancer found in adult males were urinary bladder and lung and bronchus cancers; leukaemia was the most common cancer in children. Conclusion: The findings from this study can be used for predicting cancer epidemiology in Basra, Iraq, and to identify subsets of the population at high risk of cancer incidence. This information will help healthcare providers to adequately respond to the demands of diagnosis, treatment and palliative care for such patients.Keywords: Neoplasms; Incidence; Epidemiology; Demography; Iraq

Impact of Comorbidities on Survival Among Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Using the Charlson Comorbidity Index: Retrospective study from Basra, Iraq

Objectives: In chronic diseases, comorbidities are known to have a strong negative association with overall survival (OS). This study aimed to use the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to examine the effect of comorbidities on OS among patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2006 and October 2016 and included 247 CML patients treated at the Basra Oncology & Haematology Centre, Basra, Iraq. Information from hospital records was used to calculate CCI scores and patients were divided into groups based on scores of 2–3 (CCI1 group) or ≥4 (CCI2 group). The OS was calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: There were 177 (71.7%) patients in the CCI1 group and 70 (28.3%) in the CCI2 group. Overall, patients in the CCI1 group were significantly younger compared to those in the CCI2 group (median age: 35 versus 60 years; P <0.001); however, the gender distribution was similar in both groups (male-to-female ratio of 1:1.06 versus 1:1.18, respectively; P = 0.683). Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity (17%), followed by hypertension (12%) and gastrointestinal diseases (6%). There were no significant differences in mortality between the groups (9.6% versus 8.6%; P = 0.801). In total, 69.6% of all deaths were related to CML progression rather than to the presence of comorbidities. Conclusion: No significant correlation was found between CCI score and OS among CML patients in Basra. However, larger long-term prospective studies are needed to evaluate associations with median age at diagnosis and disease severity and to develop region-specific prognostic scales.Keywords: Comorbidity; Chronic Myeloid Leukemia; Mortality; Survival Analysis; Chronic Diseases; Iraq

Risk factors among patients with ovarian cancer attending oncology hematology center in Basrah city

Worldwide, approximately 225,500 ovarian cancers are diagnosed annually . The leading cause of gynecological cancer death (140,200 worldwide annually) is the ovarian cancer, which accounts for more deaths than all the other gynecological cancers combined. The ovarian cancer is the fourteenth commonest cancer among population in Basrah city in Iraq. Methods This is a case control study carried out in the Basrah oncology –hematology center and primary health care centers in Basrah city . The study include 103 cases of ovarian cancer and 206 control. Result we found that more than half of case of ovarian cancer aged 50 years and above. History of insulin treatment is a risk factor for ovarian cancer (OR more than one) with significant statistical association. Hysterectomy and tubal ligation are protective against ovarian cancer . Conclusion There are many risk factors of ovarian cancer some of these are modifiable while the others are not modifiable. Hysterectomy and tubal ligation considered as protective factors