PURPOSE: In this study we assessed bladder cancer health care and mortality trends in recent decades in a well studied arsenic exposed area in Northern Chile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Arsenic levels in the affected region were obtained for the last 60 years, and correlated with bladder cancer hospital discharge and mortality rates in recent decades. RESULTS: Bladder cancer hospital discharge rates were significantly higher in the affected region (peak RR 3.6, 95% CI 3.0-4.7). Mortality rates for bladder cancer showed a trend of increase during the period analyzed, reaching peak mortality rates of 28.4 per 100,000 for men and 18.7 per 100,000 for women in the last 10 years. Poisson regression models showed an increased mortality risk in the studied region compared to the rest of the country until the present for men (IRR 5.3, 95% CI 4.8-5.8) and women (IRR 7.8, 95% CI 7.0-8.7). Mean age at cancer specific death was significantly lower in the exposed region (69.6 years, 95% CI 68.4-70.7 vs 73.7 years, 95% CI 73.3-74.2, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to arsenic is related to a significant need for bladder cancer health care and to high mortality rates even 20 years after having controlled arsenic levels in drinking water. Affected individuals should be aware of the significant impact of this ecological factor. Further research is required to identify strategies for the management of bladder cancer in arsenic exposed populations.
PURPOSE: In this study we assessed bladder cancer health care and mortality trends in recent decades in a well studied arsenic exposed area in Northern Chile. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Arsenic levels in the affected region were obtained for the last 60 years, and correlated with bladder cancer hospital discharge and mortality rates in recent decades. RESULTS:Bladder cancer hospital discharge rates were significantly higher in the affected region (peak RR 3.6, 95% CI 3.0-4.7). Mortality rates for bladder cancer showed a trend of increase during the period analyzed, reaching peak mortality rates of 28.4 per 100,000 for men and 18.7 per 100,000 for women in the last 10 years. Poisson regression models showed an increased mortality risk in the studied region compared to the rest of the country until the present for men (IRR 5.3, 95% CI 4.8-5.8) and women (IRR 7.8, 95% CI 7.0-8.7). Mean age at cancer specific death was significantly lower in the exposed region (69.6 years, 95% CI 68.4-70.7 vs 73.7 years, 95% CI 73.3-74.2, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to arsenic is related to a significant need for bladder cancer health care and to high mortality rates even 20 years after having controlled arsenic levels in drinking water. Affected individuals should be aware of the significant impact of this ecological factor. Further research is required to identify strategies for the management of bladder cancer in arsenic exposed populations.
Authors: Maria Argos; Faruque Parvez; Mahfuzar Rahman; Muhammad Rakibuz-Zaman; Alauddin Ahmed; Samar Kumar Hore; Tariqul Islam; Yu Chen; Brandon L Pierce; Vesna Slavkovich; Christopher Olopade; Muhammad Yunus; John A Baron; Joseph H Graziano; Habibul Ahsan Journal: Epidemiology Date: 2014-07 Impact factor: 4.822
Authors: Maria Argos; Mahfuzar Rahman; Faruque Parvez; James Dignam; Tariqul Islam; Iftekhar Quasem; Samar K Hore; Ahmed T Haider; Zahid Hossain; Tazul I Patwary; Muhammad Rakibuz-Zaman; Golam Sarwar; Paul La Porte; Judith Harjes; Kristen Anton; Muhammad G Kibriya; Farzana Jasmine; Rashed Khan; Mohammed Kamal; Christopher R Shea; Muhammad Yunus; John A Baron; Habibul Ahsan Journal: Eur J Clin Invest Date: 2013-04-17 Impact factor: 4.686
Authors: Verne Tsang; Rebecca C Fry; Mihai D Niculescu; Julia E Rager; Jesse Saunders; David S Paul; Steven H Zeisel; Michael P Waalkes; Miroslav Stýblo; Zuzana Drobná Journal: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol Date: 2012-08-31 Impact factor: 4.219
Authors: Matthew E Hyndman; Deborah Kaye; Nicholas C Field; Keith A Lawson; Norm D Smith; Gary D Steinberg; Mark P Schoenberg; Trinity J Bivalacqua Journal: Adv Urol Date: 2012-08-27