INTRODUCTION: Estimating childhood cancer incidence globally is hampered by lack of reliable data and uniform age limits for classifying and analyzing data reported. In Cuba, cancer data has been systematically gathered and processed by the National Cancer Registry (NCR) since 1964. The International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC) is currently recommended for registering neoplasms in the population aged ≤19 years. Cancer incidence data published by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, however, uses ICCC diagnostic groups for the population aged <15 years, and topographic sites for the population aged ≥15 years.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study are to describe cancer incidence in the Cuban population aged ≤19 years in 2001–2003 using the ICCC, as well as geographic distribution of incidence by sex and by principal diagnostic groups.

METHODS: A descriptive study of cancer incidence in the population aged ≤19 years was conducted using NCR data for 2001–2003. ICCC diagnostic groups and subgroups were used, and 5 age groups (<1, 1–4, 5–9, 10–14 and 15–19 years) were analyzed. Total incidence and percentages for each diagnostic group were calculated. Number of cases in each diagnostic group and subgroup was also recorded by age group, and age-specific rates per 100,000 population aged ≤19 years (ASR) and age-adjusted rates to the standard world population aged ≤19 years (AAR) were calculated. AARs for leukemias, lymphomas and central nervous system (CNS) tumors were used to analyze childhood cancer risk by sex and geographical distribution in the country’s 14 provinces and Isle of Youth Special Municipality.

RESULTS: In 2001–2003, the NCR reported 1285 new cancer cases in the population aged ≤19 years for an overall incidence of 13.9 per 100,000 population aged ≤19 years (AAR). Highest risk was found in children aged <1 year with an ASR of 21.9 per 100,000 population aged ≤19 years. Leukemias, lymphomas and central nervous system tumors comprised 61.1% of new cases, and geographic distribution of these diagnostic groups varied by sex. Childhood cancer risk was highest for males in Ciego de Avila, Villa Clara and the Isle of Youth Special Municipality and highest for females in Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara and Cienfuegos.

CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of childhood cancer in Cuba conforms to rates reported internationally and to the incidence pattern most common in Latin America. Further research is recommended to examine risk factors influencing geographical variations in incidence within Cuba.

Keywords Pediatrics, cancer, incidence, risk, registries, epidemiology

Introduction Cancer has been the second cause of death in Cuba since 1958. The National Cancer Registry (NCR) and the National Statistics Division of the Ministry of Public Health provide incidence, mortality and other relevant epidemiological data on the disease, as a basis for analysis and decision-making in public health planning for cancer control.

Objectives Describe trends in incidence and mortality of cancer in Cuba overall and by sex since 1990, and analyze the most current 3-year data for frequent types and risk of developing and dying from cancer, by age group, sex, site, and province.

Methods Cancer incidence and mortality were described using age-adjusted rates based on standard world population for 1990–2003 and 1990–2007, respectively. Crude and age-adjusted rates were calculated for the most common sites (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) by sex using the latest 3-year incidence data available (2001–2003) from the National Cancer Registry and mortality data (2005–2007) from the National Statistics Division of the Ministry of Public Health. To compare risk of developing and dying from cancer among Cuban provinces, age-adjusted rates were distributed in quartiles.

Results Cancer incidence and mortality have increased in both sexes since 1990. In 2001–2003, an average of 23,710 new cancer cases were diagnosed annually (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer), and the average annual risk of developing cancer was 216.5 per 100,000 population for men and 204.0 per 100,000 population for women. Between 2005 and 2007, there were 19,671 average annual deaths from cancer in Cuba. The risk of developing and dying from cancer varies by age group and by geographic location but was highest in Havana City province. The sites with highest incidence and mortality were lung, female breast, prostate, colon, and uterine cervix.

Conclusions Cancer incidence and mortality are increasing in Cuba, and the differences by site, age, sex and geographical distribution analyzed in this article, as well as recommended further research, should serve to inform adoption and implementation of more effective strategies for the Ministry of Public Health’s national Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.

Keywords: Cancer, epidemiology, incidence, mortality, death rate, age distribution, sex distribution, registries, Cuba