Hodgkin disease mortality in the United States: 1979-1988

Mortality trends for Hodgkin disease in the United States were examined from 1979 to 1988 with the use of mortality data for multiple causes of death, which were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. A progressive decrease in the death rate from Hodgkin disease was observed over this period. The decrease in death rate was greatest among white patients. Patients who were 55 years or older had the highest death rate. Analysis by geographic region showed decreases in each of the regions, with no significant difference among groups of states with high and low incidences of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. However, the decrease in the South was approximately 35% greater than that in the North-east. In 1988 the most significant difference in death rates between male and female patients was in the 35-54-year age group, whereas a significant difference in death rates between white and black patients was seen only in patients who were 55 years of age or older. In summary, although there has been a significant reduction in deaths resulting from Hodgkin disease between 1979 and 1988, the decreases observed have varied between sexes and among age groups, racial groups, and geographic regions.