Age-Specific and Age-Standardized Incidence Trends of Iraq's Top Five Childhood Cancers (2002–2021)

Abstract

Background

The incidence of childhood cancer has consistently increased over several decades, but there is limited recent data available. This lack of information inhibits our ability to accurately assess figures and investigate the potential effects that environmental or lifestyle changes may have on pediatric neoplasm susceptibility. As a result, further research in this area is essential for understanding the causes underlying these trends and their impact more thoroughly.

Objectives

To encourage exploration aimed at gaining a deeper comprehension of the factors behind heightened occurrences of cancer in children. It would be achieved by providing pertinent data relating to such cases among minors, with potential methods for prevention and control.

Methodology

We have utilized a descriptive approach in our analysis methodology, which involves gathering subject data covering all child malignancy diagnoses before the age of 15 within an Iraqi population from 2002 until the present. This has been accomplished by utilizing published cancer registry records. We will use these acquired sources to compute age-specific incidences (ASIR), cumulative rate frequencies per hundred thousand subjects' classification (100k CRs), and calculate combined gender-standardized average-age statistics corresponding to averages on the five most common forms regarding cancers among minors between respective stipulated periods of years ranging from 2002-2021.

Results

From 2002 to 2021, the study involved a population of 681,013,099 in Iraq, including 276,811,275 children aged from zero to fourteen years old accounting for about forty-point sixty-five percent of the total populace. Throughout this period there have been instances where twenty-seven thousand five hundred fifty-one cases of cancer afflicting kids under fifteen years(old) were reported- specifically; boys had twice as many recorded cases than girls with up to fifteen thousand seven thirty-seven versus eleven thousand eight hundred and fourteen respectively

Conclusions

Prioritizing these efforts may bring us closer to improving survival rates and raising the quality of life for children battling this severe disease within Iraq's borders. Childhood cancer in Iraq is a significant health issue. The most prevalent types include leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, Wilms tumor, and retinoblastoma. Despite advances in healthcare infrastructure and treatment options available, limited access to specialized care, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental factors remain problems that need addressing as they affect diagnosis rates and outcomes.