Spatial analysis of lung cancer incidence in Croatia

Rak pluća velik je javnozdravstveni problem u Hrvatskoj. Do sada nisu provedene, barem s geografskog gledišta, pomoću geografskih metoda i tehnika, nikakve analize pojavnosti bilo koje bolesti pa tako ni ove. Rak pluća kronična je nezarazna bolest. U radu se polazilo od pretpostavki da će stope incidencije raka pluća biti veće u prostorima gdje je stanovništvo starije i gdje je BDP per capita manji od hrvatskog. Uspoređivale su se dvije popisne godine – 2001. i 2011. pomoću grubih stopa incidencija raka pluća i standardizirane stope incidencije prema dobi. Međutim, rak pluća se u Hrvatskoj pojavljuje ne prateći bilo kakve prostorne zakonitosti – stope incidencije raspoređene su poput leopardove kože. Takva situacija upućuje na dominantne individualne rizične faktore pojavnosti – odnosno način života koji pogoduje pojavi ove bolesti. S tim u svezi, u Hrvatskoj se ne može ciljano djelovati na jedan prostor, već je važna prevencija u smjeru pojedinca kako bi očuvao vlastito zdravlje, a time i doprinio zdravlju cjelokupne populacije.Lung cancer is a big public health problem in Croatia. Up to now, as far as the geographical point of view and the usage of geographical methods and techniques are concerned, there were no known analyses of any disease, including this one. Lung cancer is a chronical, non-contagious disease. This paper starts from the assumption that the incidence rates for lung cancer will be higher in the areas with older population and lower GDP per capita. Two years were compared, 2001 and 2011 (the years in which censuses of population were carried out), using rough incidence rates for lung cancer as well as age standardized incidence rates. The result shows that lung cancer appears in Croatia without following any spatial regularities; the incidence rates are not distributed evenly. Such a situation indicates dominant individual risk factors of prevalence, i.e. the way of life suitable for occurrence of the disease. In connection with that, it is not possible to aim at one particular area in the country. What is important is the prevention directed to each individual and consequently to the health of the population in general