Burden of Tobacco-related Cancers in India and its States, 2015-2025

Abstract

Tobacco use is a significant contributor to the cancer burden, which is preventable. It
relates to around a quarter to two-third of cancers in males and up to half in females.
For planning and effective implementation of anti-tobacco programmes, the knowledge
of burden of tobacco-related cancers (TRCs) is essential. This paper assesses and
projects the burden of TRCs in India and its States for the period 2015-2025 by using the
data of National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) of Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR). Cancer incidence rates generated by Population-Based Cancer
Registries under the NCRP and population of India and its States as projected by the
Registrar General of India formed the sources of data for this study. The best possible
assessment of incidence rates was made for the States and Union Territories using the
limited data available. The regression method was applied to assess the trend and project
the rates for the study period. Overall burden of TRCs in India was estimated at about
365 thousand in 2015 and projected to increase to 506 thousand by 2025, an increase of
more than one-third. A sizeable portion of this burden is due to tobacco use in men.
Analysis showed regional diversity in the burden of diverse types of TRCs. There is an
urgent need to initiate focused tobacco prevention measures to combat this threat.