Epidemiological Characteristics of Lung Cancer Patients in the Middle Euphrates Region of Iraq: Retrospective Analysis from the Middle Euphrates Cancer Center (2018-2023)

Background: Lung cancer is a significant public health issue in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq. Objective: To identify socio-epidemiologic and histopathologic patterns of lung cancer patients in this region. Methods: Medical records of lung cancer patients registered at the Middle Euphrates Cancer Center (January 2018 to December 2023) were analyzed. Demographic information and histopathologic classifications were reviewed. All confirmed lung cancer cases were included, while cases with incomplete data were excluded. Results: A total of 1,162 patients were included, with a mean age at diagnosis of 64.47 years. The majority (64.4%) were over 60 years of age, and those between 40 and 60 years of age (34%). Males accounted for 68% of cases, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 2:1. Patients with low or no formal education comprised 87.9% of the study population. The most prevalent subtype was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with adenocarcinoma (AC) coming in second at 37% and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) coming in third at 10.5%. While SCC remained the predominant subtype, AC incidence increased over time (31.7% in 2018 vs. 41.4% in 2023), particularly among females, younger individuals, and those with higher education. The proportion of NSCLC-NOS diagnoses declined from 11.1% in 2018 to 3.2% in 2023. Conclusions: Lung cancer remains a major health concern, especially among older individuals. The rising incidence of AC underscores the need for enhanced screening strategies, targeted prevention programs, and tailored treatment approaches to address evolving risk factors.