| [ Summary ] |
We compared the cancer mortality rate between chronic dialysis patients and the general population in Okinawa, Japan. Among a total of 1,982 patients, we found 101 cancers in 94 patients (52 men and 42 women). The time of diagnosis of cancer was one year before starting dialysis in 17 patients (18.1%), within one year before and after starting dialysis in 32 patients (34.O%), and more than one year after starting dialysis in 45 patients (47.9%). The relative risk of cancer death in dialysis patients was 3.21 in men and 4.69 in women when compared to the general population. Actual incidence of cancer death was higher in both sexes compared to that of the general population. Colon cancer was prevalent in dialysis patients, whereas lung cancer was the most frequent in the general population in Okinawa. |