Gender-based epidemiological study of lung cancer patients: single center study, Egypt

Background In Egypt, lung cancer represents 5.0–7.0% of all cancers and ranks the fifth in males and both sexes, and ninth among females. The current study aims to characterize a cohort of patients with lung cancer based on their sex regarding risk factors, clinical presentation, and results of investigations. Patients and methods A retrospective comparative cross-sectional study was conducted that included all female lung cancer cases that were referred to the Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department from year 2014 to year 2018. An equal number of males were randomly selected within the same year interval (as a comparative group). Data (included epidemiological data, relevant medical history, and the histopathologic type of cancer) were retrieved from the electronic database. Results The family history of malignancy was higher among females (8.8 vs. 0%), but the difference was not significant. There were no significant differences in performance status between male and female group. Apart from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the prevalence of most chronic diseases was significantly higher among females than males. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic subtype regardless of sex, whereas squamous cell carcinoma represented 18.5% among males and 1.9% among females, with significant difference (P=0.001). Bone was the most common site of metastasis. Overall, 14% of males had suprarenal metastasis, compared with 3.5% of females, with significant difference (P=0.047). Conclusion This 4-year single-center analysis concluded that both male and female present at a late stage of lung cancer. Suprarenal metastasis was more common in males than females. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common among males. There were no sex differences regarding age of diagnosis, performance status, presenting symptoms, and radiological site of tumor.