MORTALITY BY BREAST-CANCER IN THE EUROPEA N-COMMUNITY (1970-1985)

BACKGROUND: A comparative study of mortality by breast cancer in the d ifferent countries of the European Community was carried out. METHODS: Deaths by breast cancer in women over the age of 14 from 1970-1985 we re considered. The data were collected from the Statistical Yearbook o f the World Health Organization. Poisson log-lineal models were used t o calculate the relative risk and evaluate the temporary tendency of e ach country. Lastly a different model was established for each age gro up (15-44, 45-64, > 65) to know their evolution over time in the diffe rent countries. RESULTS: A north-south pattern was observed in the mor tality by this tumor. Considered altogether, the Mediterranean countri es present a mortality defect of 45 % with respect to the remaining co untries. The global tendency is slightly upwards in all the countries. This increase is significantly greater in the Mediterranean countries (7 % every 5 years). Analysis by age showed that this increase is pro duced in the group of women over the age of 44 years. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in death by breast cancer in the European countries continue s to rise despite the existing detection programs and improvements in survival. The differences among the countries tend to decrease making the incidence of breast cancer in the north and south of Europe ever m ore similar.