Epidemiology of lung cancer in a tertiary health-care center: A retrospective study

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. Tobacco smoking is the most important environmental factor associated with the development of lung cancer. However, a large number of patients with lung cancer have no history of smoking frequently among female patients. There are no enough data in Eastern India regarding epidemiological study of lung cancer. Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of lung cancer in our institution (NRS Medical College and Hospital). Materials and Methods: Our study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data for newly diagnosed adult patients. All patients were registered only after lung cancer diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological and/or cytological examination. The following information was collected from the database such as age, sex, smoking status and histological type, disease location, and stage. Results: A number of male patients were 786 (82%) and a number of female patients were 172 (18%). 692 (72.2%) patients had a history of smoking and 266 (27.8%) patients had no history of smoking in their life. Among the non-smoker patients, female patients were 147 (55.3%) and male patients were 119 (44.7%). 80% of patients came from rural areas and 20% of patients came from urban areas. In our study; histologically, the adenocarcinoma was 398 (41.6%) found most prevalent which is followed by squamous cell carcinoma 365 (38.1%). Conclusion: Adenocarcinoma lung with the right upper lobe involvement was prevalent in our study and non-smoker female patients were predominant. The major etiological factor was smoking. Awareness in the society is needed about cancerous effect of tobacco smoking for reducing the incidence of lung cancer.