Prevalence of Esophageal Cancer in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe: Epidemiology and Problems of Complex of Treatment and Care

In this chapter the problems of the prevalence of esophageal cancer and the distribution of mortality rates from this disease are considered in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The rates of mortality from esophageal cancer are analyzed by statistical methods, econometrics, spatial and time series analysis. A study is carried out of the features of the tendencies of mortality rates from esophageal cancer in six EU countries and in Ukraine. The problems of the prevalence of esophageal cancer and the spatial distribution of mortality rates from this disease are considered using as examples the NUTS 2 regions in six countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary). The spatial distribution of the rates of mortality from esophageal cancer is analyzed. It allows us to determine more and less epidemiologically affected regions and to carry out more detailed studies on the link between the mortality rates from esophageal cancer and various factors. It is emphasized that various factors, such as the environmental situation, socio-demographic characteristics of the population, culture and nature of nutrition, the general health status of the population, the availability of resources and the level of healthcare in the region should be took into account for development of complex of treatment and care and for the programs for the prevention of prevalence of esophageal cancer.