Trend of bladder cancer mortality in Iran (2006 to 2010)

Background and aims: Bladder cancer is the most common tumor of the urinary tract and the ninth cancer in terms of incidence in both sexes in the world. Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer among men in Iran. The most important risk factors which attribute to the incidence of bladder cancer are tobacco usage, exposure to industrial materials, and chronic infection by Schistsoma. This study aimed to investigate the trend of death from bladder cancer in Iran. Methods: This study was conducted by the use of data on mortality in Iran during  2006-10. Data on mortality from cancer within the study period were collected and entered on a pre-designed form. Mortality rates per 105 persons were calculated by age group and sex, and the trend of mortality from this cancer was determined. Results: The results from the calculation of mortality rates per 105 persons indicated that the death rate from bladder cancer is reduced from 1.12 to 1.09. The mortality rates during all the years under the study showed that increasing age increases the bladder cancer in men. Conclusion: No particular change was observed in the analysis of the trend of tobacco using in Iran in the last two decades, which can be considered as one of the causes of constancy of mortality trend from bladder cancer. However, given the increase in the number of people over 65 and the observed growing trend in bladder cancer incidence in various regions of the country, it is recommended that health policies are adopted in order to prevent the risk factors behind this type of cancer such as tobacco and harmful industrial materials.