• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3265-3269
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• 2016

Background: Around half of input data in the global burden of disease cancer collaboration (GBD-CC) and GLOBOCAN projects come from low quality sources, mainly from developing countries. This may lead to loss of precision in estimates. Our question was: Are the absolute values and trends of the GBD-CC and GLOBOCAN estimates for lung cancer (LC) in Iran consistent with available statistics?. Materials and Methods: Incidence and mortality statistics were extracted from national reports (N.IRs & N.MRs) and GBD-CC (GBD-incidence & mortality) and GLOBOCAN databases for 1990-2013 where available. Trends were analyzed and absolute values and annual percentage changes (APCs) were estimated and compared. Incompleteness of case ascertainment at the Iranian national cancer registry and Iranian national civil registration was assessed for better understanding. Results: Trends of N.IRs were significantly rising for males (APC: 19.4; 95% CI: 12.5-26.7) and females (23.2; 16.0-30.8). Trends of GBD-incidence were stable for males (-0.2; -1.5-1.1) and females (-1.0; -2.3-0.4). Absolute N.IRs were less than GBD-incidence steadily except for 2009. Trend of N.MRs was increasing up to 2004, but stable thereafter. Trends of GBD-mortality were also stable. Absolute N.MRs were less than GBD-mortality for years up to 2003 and more than GBD-mortality since 2005. The estimates of GLOBOCAN were more than N.IRs and N.MRs. Conclusions: The GBD-CC and GLOBOCAN values for LC in Iran are underestimates. Generation of data quality indices to present along with country specific estimates is highly recommended.