Lung Cancer
12 January 2024
Introduction
Lung cancer was the commonest cancer in Hong Kong. It accounted for 15.5% of new cancer cases in 2021.
Incidence
In 2021, there were 5978 new cases of lung cancer, with 3493 male cases and 2485 female cases. The male to female ratio of incidence was about 1.4 to 1. About 80% of lung cancer new cases were diagnosed in people aged 60 or older. The crude incidence rates of lung cancer were 103.3 for males and 61.7 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised incidence rates* of lung cancer were 46.9 for males and 29.5 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of incidence
The age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer of both sexes had a downward trend over the past 39 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1983 and 2021: -1.4%), while no significant trend was observed over the past 10 years.
The age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer of males had a downward trend over the past 39 years (AAPC between 1983 and 2021: -1.7%) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2012 and 2021: -1.2%).
The age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer of females had a downward trend over the past 39 years (AAPC between 1983 and 2021: -0.8%), but an upward trend over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2012 and 2021: 1.6%).
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of lung cancer by sex,
1983-2000 （View）
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of lung cancer by sex,
2001-2021 （View）
Age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer by sex, 1983-2021
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Notes: |
* |
Age-standardised incidence rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
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# |
AAPC of age-standardised incidence / death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence / death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. |
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| Data in the above charts from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach. | ||
| Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. | ||
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Sources: |
Census and Statistics Department |
Mortality
Lung cancer was the first leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. In 2022, a total of 3782 people died from this cancer, accounting for 25.7% of all cancer deaths. The crude death rates of lung cancer were 71.7 for males and 34.5 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised death rates* of lung cancer were 29.7 for males and 14.0 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of mortality
The age-standardised death rate of lung cancer of both sexes, males and females all had a downward trend over the past 42 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1981 and 2022: -1.5%, -1.6% and -1.4% respectively) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2013 and 2022: -2.7%, -3.1% and -2.0% respectively).
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of lung cancer by sex,
1981-2000 （View）
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of lung cancer by sex,
2001-2022 （View）
Age-standardised death rate of lung cancer by sex, 1981-2022
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Notes: |
* |
Age-standardised death rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
|
# |
AAPC of age-standardised incidence / death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence / death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. |
|
|
|
|
Data in the above charts from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach. |
|
|
|
Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. |
|
Sources: |
|
Census and Statistics Department Department of Health |
Lung cancer corresponds to codes 162 in ICD-9 and C33-C34 in ICD-10.
For more information about cancer statistics in Hong Kong, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Cancer Registry.
For health information relating to cancer, please visit the Cancer Online Resource Hub.