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Analysis of lung cancer incidence, mortality trends, and smoking rates in Japan:1975–2022 with insights on the impact of COVID-19

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Abstract

In Japan, high-quality cancer statistics are collected through cancer registries. However, these data are rarely summarized or reported in research articles. We compiled statistical data on lung cancer in Japan including the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the number of cases of lung cancer in Japan was 126,548. The age-adjusted incidence rate of lung cancer increased from 23.2/100,000 to 42.4/100,000 in males and from 7.2/100,000 to 18.3/100,000 in females between 1975 and 2019. The age-adjusted mortality rate of lung cancer in Japan increased since 2000, after which it decreased. This trend was similar in both males and females. We also investigated statistics on lung cancer worldwide (Australia, Sweden, England, and the United States [USA]). The age-adjusted incidence rate of lung cancer in the data standardized to the world population for males has increased only in Japan; for females, it has decreased only in the USA. Global age-adjusted lung cancer mortality rates have been declining in all countries. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has not affected the age-adjusted mortality rate of lung cancer. On the other hand, the number of individuals undergoing lung cancer screening in Japan decreased from 7.92 million in 2019 to 6.59 million in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected individuals undergoing lung cancer screening, and its impact on lung cancer needs to be continuously monitored in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-Ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan

    Hiroki Yamamoto, Masayuki Shirasawa & Katsuhiko Naoki

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  1. Hiroki Yamamoto
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Correspondence to Masayuki Shirasawa.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Yamamoto has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shirasawa reports personal fees from MSD, personal fees from Asahi Kasei, personal fees from AstraZeneca.K.K, personal fees from Ono, personal fees from BMS, personal fees from Chugai, personal fees from Eli Lilly, personal fees from Daiichi Sankyo, outside the submitted work; . Dr. Naoki reports personal fees from AstraZeneca.K.K, personal fees from BMS, grants and personal fees from Chugai, grants and personal fees from Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, grants from ONO, grants from Taiho , grants from PAREXEL, outside the submitted work; .

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Yamamoto, H., Shirasawa, M. & Naoki, K. Analysis of lung cancer incidence, mortality trends, and smoking rates in Japan:1975–2022 with insights on the impact of COVID-19. Int J Clin Oncol 30, 199–209 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-025-02695-4

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