Lung cancer risk and screening outcome among 40 – 74 years old urban community residents in Inner Mongolia autonomous region: 2017 – 2018

  Objective  To explore lung cancer risk and to analyze screening outcomes among middle-aged and elderly urban community residents in Inner Mongolia autonomous region for providing evidences to lung cancer prevention in the population.

  Methods  We recruited 70 027 permanent residents aged 40 – 74 years in 6 urban communities in two cities of Inner Mongolia autonomous region with cluster random sampling. Using approaches and questionnaire for Cancer Screening Program in Urban China, we carried out a face-to-face interview to assess lung cancer risk among the residents and a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer among the residents with high cancer risk from March 2017 to December 2018.

  Results  Of all the participants, 15 753 (22.50%) were assessed as with high risk of lung cancer and of the high risk individuals, 6 265 (42.47%) received LDCT examination. The pulmonary abnormalities detected among the LDCT examinees included suspected cancer (37 cases, 0.59% of the examinees), nodule (1 219, 19.46%), emphysema (694, 11.08%), cyst (277, 4.42%), small airway lesion (197, 3.14%), interstitial disorder (172, 2.75%), fiber scar (1 335, 21.31%), and atelectasis (132, 2.11%). Unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that aged ≥ 50 years, having physical exercise, ambient air pollution in living environment, with history of emphysema, and having long-term mental depression were significant risk factors of having pulmonary nodule in LDCT detection but being Mongolian ethnic, exposure to second hand smoke for 1 – 14 years, drinking alcohol frequently, being business men/farmers/workers/other unspecific occupation were significant protective factors of pulmonary nodule among the participants assessed at high risk of lung cancer.

  Conclusion  In Inner Mongolia autonomous region for the middle-aged and elderly urban community residents with high risk lung cancer, the participation rate of computed tomography for cancer screening is relatively low and the detection rate of pulmonary nodules is associated with age, ethnic group, occupation, years of second hand smoke exposure, alcohol drinking, physical exercise, residential air pollution, history of emphysema, and long-term mental depression.