The impact of social and moral changes on the incidence trends as illustrated by the laryngeal cancer in females in Podkarpackie Voivodship and Prešov Region

Abstract

Differentiation of the incidence of civilization diseases trends both in the world and in European countries is a well-known phenomenon. Monitoring of these trends shows that cancer has been the leading cause of death in Western European countries.
It is difficult not to notice the connection of these phenomena with the economic situation of individual countries and the accompanying social and moral trends. Against this background, changes in the pattern of the incidence of cancer are a particularly clear example of linking the incidence of civilization diseases to socio-cultural factors. In Poland, the number of lung cancer deaths, a typical tobacco-dependent cancer, has been higher than the number of breast cancer deaths for the first time. In the head and neck cancer, the incidence of laryngeal cancer in males decreased, whereas in females the incidence of the disease increased in the country.
There are similarities and differences between Podkarpackie Voivodship and Prešov Region, which are largely due to geographical and natural conditions, legal and socio-political, and historical conditions. These differences are also clearly seen in the laryngeal cancer in females, which is lower in Prešov Region. The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of social and moral changes on the incidence trends as illustrated by the laryngeal cancer in females in Podkarpackie Voivodship and Prešov Region. A retrospective analysis of socio-economic phenomena and economic activity of the population and the incidence of laryngeal cancer in females was conducted. A similar level of socio-economic indicators in both regions was observed for GDP per capita, equally lower average wages compared to the averages in both countries, the employment rate and net migration. The differences in the two regions concerned mainly the unemployment rate, which is lower in Podkarpacie Voivodship than in Prešov Region, and average gross wage and salary, which is higher in Podkarpacie Voivodship than in Prešov Region. In the years 2003-2009, the incidence rates of laryngeal cancer in females including the absolute number of cases, the crude rate, the standardized rate and the percentage in Podkarpacie showed a decreasing trend, while in Prešov Region the trend was increasing.