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Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease 5/2008

01-05-2008 | Original Article

Gender differences in the trend of colorectal cancer incidence in Singapore, 1968–2002

Authors: Inge M. C. M. de Kok, Chia Siong Wong, Kee Seng Chia, Xueling Sim, Chuen Seng Tan, Lambertus A. Kiemeney, Helena M. Verkooijen

Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease | Issue 5/2008

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Abstract

Background and aims

Over the past decades, incidence trends of colorectal cancer are sharply increased in Singapore. In this population-based study we describe changes in colorectal cancer incidence in Singapore and explore the reasons behind these changes through age-period cohort (APC) modeling.

Methods

We included all 22,609 colorectal cancer cases reported to the Singapore Cancer Registry between 1968 and 2002. Poisson regression, using age-period (AP) and age-cohort (AC) models was used to determine the effects of age at diagnosis, calendar period, and birth cohort.

Results

Male colorectal cancer rates between 1968 and 2002 from 20 to 40 per 100,000 person years. The increase was sharpest among older men, for whom there was a significant AC effect. Female colorectal cancer rates increased until 1992 (from 16 to 29 per 100,000 person years) and stabilized afterward. For women under 65 years, we observed a significant AP effect, corresponding to a sudden rise in colorectal cancer incidence around 1978.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates important gender differences in colorectal cancer incidence in Singapore, with increasing rates among men, and stabilized rates in women. The increase in men is mainly attributable to an incidence increase in the oldest age groups, probably due to increased exposure to dietary and lifestyle risk factors earlier in life. The stabilization in female colorectal cancer risk could be due to lower exposure to lifestyle risk factors and prophylactic removal of precancerous lesions.
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Metadata
Title
Gender differences in the trend of colorectal cancer incidence in Singapore, 1968–2002
Authors
Inge M. C. M. de Kok
Chia Siong Wong
Kee Seng Chia
Xueling Sim
Chuen Seng Tan
Lambertus A. Kiemeney
Helena M. Verkooijen
Publication date
01-05-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Journal of Colorectal Disease / Issue 5/2008
Print ISSN: 0179-1958
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1262
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-007-0421-9

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