[Breast cancer: morbidity and mortality in Austria. Descriptive epidemiology 1983-1987]

The incidence and mortality rate from breast cancer in Austria from 1983 to 1987 were obtained from data of the Austrian Cancer Register. There were on average 3012 new cases per year (75.8 per 100,000 women). Age-standardized incidence (European standard population) as calculated by the WHO was 64.1 per 100,000. Distribution by stages ("US end-result group") showed stage I (localized) in 44.7%, stage II (spread to immediate neighbouring structures and regional lymph nodes) in 41.3% and stage III (generalized) in 14%. There was no significant difference between the various age groups regarding stage distribution. The number of deaths increased from 1,462 in 1983 to 1,675 in 1987, a raw mortality rate of 36.8 and 42.2, respectively. Age-standardized mortality increased from 29.0 to 31.2, respectively. These data point to a further increase in incidence and mortality rate from breast cancer in Austria.