Study of breast cancer incidence in the population of Ukraine at the state and regional levels

Abstract

Oncological diseases are the one of the most actual problems of modern medicine. In the oncological diseases structure in Ukraine breast cancer (BC) takes the first place among women. The purpose of the study is to analyze the dynamic of the population's morbidity rates for breast cancer (BC) in Ukraine and its administrative-territorial units (regions) for 2017–2021 in order to further determine the necessary amount of costs for providing medical and pharmaceutical care. For the analysis, official data for 2017‒2021 of the annual bulletins and other publications of the National Cancer Registry of Ukraine № 19-24 «Cancer in Ukraine» for 2017‒2021 of the SNE «National Cancer Institute» were used. Retrospective, mathematical-statistical, logical, system-analytical and comparative methods of analysis were used. The results of the analysis of the BC incidence rates for 2017‒2021 in Ukraine showed that the minimum number of patients with BC registered in oncology dispensaries was observed in 2017 (142,097 people) with a gradual increase to 157,274 persons in 2020. In 2021, the incidence rate was 52,752 persons. In 2021, there was a sharp decrease in the incidence rate, which could have happened not due to a real decrease in incidence, but due to a decrease in the level of diagnostics, which was facilitated by quarantine restrictions regarding the coronavirus infection, the outbreak of which began in 2019. Analysis of the dynamics of changes in the number of cases of BC in Ukraine for 2017‒2021 shows that the maximum value of the absolute increase was observed in 2017 (1,326 people), and the minimum ‒ in 2020 (-2,031 people). The existence of significant variability of morbidity indicators in different administrative and territorial associations of the country was established. In the Rivne, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions, there is an increase in the number of patients with BC. The lowest incidence rates were observed in Kherson, Vinnytsia and Donetsk regions. The large number of patients who were diagnosed with BC for the first time determines the need for effective financial support in the provision of medical and pharmaceutical assistance in order to realize the constitutional rights of citizens to receive effective medicines.