Trends in cancer mortality in Catalonia, Spain (1975-1998)

BACKGROUND: Aimed at assessing recent trends of cancer mortality in Catalon ia (Spain), we analysed mortality rates for main tumour locations in men an d women between 1975 and 1998. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Mortality data were obtained from the Mortality Regist ry of Catalonia. For each sex, age-standardized (standard world population) mortality rates were determined by me ans of the direct method, and genera lized lineal models with Poisson distribution were adjusted to obtain annua l change percentages. RESULTS: In men, the overall cancer mortality (except skin non-melanoma) wa s highest within 1991-1992 (age-standardized rate: 181.39/100,000) and decr eased thereafter until 169.47/100,000 in 1995-1996. Lung cancer was the mai n cause of cancer mortality, displaying a 4% annual increase until 1989-199 0, and a subsequent stabilization (-0.5% annual between 1989-1990 and 1997- 1998). Colorectal cancer was the second cause of cancer death, both in men and women, with a mortality rate stabilization since the 1990s. Prostate ca ncer became the third cause of cancer death in 1997-1998. In women, overall cancer (except skin nonmelanoma) mortality rate was of 77.98/100,000 in 19 97-98, showing a 0.9% annual decrease since 1989-1990. Breast cancer was th e chief cause of cancer death within 1997-1998: after a sustained increase since 1975-1976, mortality started to decline (-2.0% annual) since 1989-199 0. Lung cancer became the third cause of cancer death among women within 19 97-1998, just after breast cancer and colorectal cancer, while gastric and uterine cancer became the fourth and fifth cancer death causes during this period, respectively. CONCLUSION: After years of a steady increase, mortality rates for main canc er types stabilized since 1989-1990 in Catalonia.