[Increase in colon cancer mortality rates in Chile, during the period 1990-2003]

In Chile, colorectal cancer is the third cause of mortality due to digestive cancer.

To assess the evolution of colon cancer mortality rates in the period 1990-2003.

Information was obtained from demography and vital statistics yearbooks, published by the Chilean National Statistics Institute. Mortality tendecies and slopes, were calculated using Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression. Proportions were compared using Chi square.

There was a significantly rising tendency in mortality for colon cancer in the general population (r= 0.964, p <0.001), in men (r=0.926, p <0.001) and in women (r=0.943, p <0.001). This tendency was not modified if rates were corrected by age. Mortality among women was significantly higher in all study years. The increase in mortality rates in the period was 0.175/100,000 inhabitants per year. The higher mortality rates were observed during 2003, reaching 6.2/100,000 inhabitants.

There was a steady increase in colon cancer mortality during the studied period.