CORRELATION OF AGE-ADJUSTED INCIDENCE AND AGE-ADJUSTED DEATH RATE IN COLORECTAL-CANCER AMONG MUNICIPALITIES IN AOMORI PREFECTURE

To clarify to what extent death rate reflects the incidence of colorec tal cancer, we calculated the age-adjusted death rates for colorectal cancer among municipalities in Aomori Prefecture for the period betwee n 1983 and 1987, and examined the correlation with the age-adjusted in cidences of the disease during different 5-year periods. In males, the age-adjusted death rate of rectal or colon cancer most correlated wit h the age-adjusted incidence in the preceding period by three or two y ears, respectively; however in females, the age-adjusted death rate be st reflected the age-adjusted incidence of the same period. In males, significant correlation was lost if the interval exceeded seven years in both rectal and colon carcinomas. In females, the correlation becam e insignificant after an interval of four and five years in rectal and colon cancers, respectively.