Age-specific cancer mortality trends in 16 countries

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer mortality trends exhibit complex patterns influenced by age and sex.
• Limited research exists on historical shifts in cancer mortality across diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age- and sex-specific cancer mortality trends in 16 countries.
• To identify changes in cancer mortality rates (CMR) and percentage of deaths from cancer (PDC) over time and across demographics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized time series analysis of age-sex-specific cancer mortality data.
• Incorporated data on all-cause mortality and population demographics for statistical description.

Main Results:

• Cancer mortality rates (CMR) peaked and declined with age in 11 countries, often earlier and more dramatically in males and in historical periods.
• Percentage of deaths from cancer (PDC) decreased significantly after age 60 across all countries.
• Middle-aged women may exhibit higher CMRs than men, and premenopausal women higher PDCs than postmenopausal women.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight significant age- and sex-specific variations in cancer mortality.
• Data limitations necessitate further research on generalizability to other regions and timeframes.
• Recommends age-sex-specific strategies for public health interventions and cancer control policy.