Incidence and mortality of liver cancer and their relationship with the human development index in the world

Background: Information on the incidence and mortality of liver cancer can be useful for health programs and research activities, and with regard to the possible role of the HDI and liver cancer, this study aimed to investigate incidence and mortality from the cancer and their relationship with the indicator and its components in 2012 in world. Methods: In this ecologic study, data were extracted from GLOBOCAN in 2012. Data on HDI and its components were extracted from the World Bank. The number and standardized incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer were reported by regions in the world. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and Correlation coefficient test. Results: There was a total of 782,451 incidence cases. Of these patients, 228, 082 cases (29.15 %) were women and 554, 369 cases (70.85 %) men, and there were 745,533 deaths. Of the deaths, 224, 492 cases (30.11 %) occurred in women and 521, 041 cases (69.89 %) men were recorded in the world in 2012. Results showed that there was a significant inverse correlation between age-specific incidence rate (ASIR) and HDI (r=-0.345, p≤0.001), as well significant inverse correlation was seen between age-specific mortality rate (ASMR), and HDI and its components. Conclusion: Liver cancer incidence and mortality are higher in the medium HDI countries. The relationship between the standardized incidence and mortality of liver cancer with HDI and its components, including life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling and income level per person was significantly negative.