Epidemiology of malignant neoplasms in young children in the Kyrgyz Republic

Actuality. In recent years, there have been significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors in children. An increase in survival and, consequently, a decrease in mortality rates in developed countries of the world is associated not only with improved methods of diagnosis and treatment, but also with timely registration of primary cancer cases. There is significant geographical, gender, age and ethnic variability in the spread of cancer in children in the world. Cancers found in young children often have clinical and biological properties that differ from those of the same histological type of cancer found in older children.

The purpose of the study. To study the aspects of descriptive epidemiology of malignant tumors in young children in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Material and methods. Over 15 years (2008–2022), according to the population registry, 517 cases of cancer were registered in children in the younger age group (0–4 years). Crude and age-standardized rates were calculated using the world standard population, depending on gender, age, ethnic group and region. The data on the average annual number of children in the republic based on the materials of the National Statistical Committee were used.

Results and discussion. By gender, there were 311 (60.1 %) boys and 206 (39.9 %) girls. The sex ratio of boys/girls was 1.51. Leukemia was in the first place in the structure of cancer in young children – 172 (33 %) cases or. Kidney tumors (nephroblastoma) were in second place with a frequency of 77 (15 %) cases. The third one had eye tumors (retinoblastoma) with a frequency of 59 (11 %) cases. The average annual incidence of boys in the urban population was registered at 85.7, and in rural areas – 54.8 per 1 million of the corresponding population (p = 0.023). The incidence among indigenous ethnic groups (kyrgyzs and uzbeks) was recorded at 58.5 and 76.7, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of cancer in children of the Russian ethnic group (121.7) compared with other nationalities. Relatively high levels of morbidity were registered in Bishkek, Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul regions.

Conclusion. In the younger age group, the incidence of malignant tumors is higher than in middle and older childhood, but relatively lower than in developed countries. It is necessary to further study the features of the spread of tumors in children in Kyrgyzstan using large groups and analytical methods of epidemiology.

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