Cancer mortality in the Mexican Social Security Institute, 1989-2013.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality globally and nationally.
• Understanding cancer mortality trends is crucial for public health interventions.
• The Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social - IMSS) serves a large population, making its beneficiaries a key demographic for health trend analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze cancer mortality trends among affiliates of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from 1989 to 2013.
• To evaluate temporal changes in the risk of cancer-related death within this population.
• To identify specific cancer types with changing mortality risks.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive analysis of cancer mortality data for IMSS beneficiaries was conducted.
• Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates were calculated using direct standardization with the WHO population.
• Poisson regression models were employed to assess time trends in cancer mortality risk.

Main Results:

• The absolute number of cancer deaths doubled between 1989 and 2013, influenced by an aging affiliate population.
• The overall risk of cancer-related death among IMSS affiliates demonstrated a notable decrease during the study period.
• An exception was observed for colon and rectal cancers, where the risk of death did not decrease.

Conclusions:

• A significant reduction in cancer mortality risk was observed among IMSS affiliates.
• This decrease is potentially attributable to enhanced early detection strategies and timely medical interventions.
• Further investigation into specific cancer types, such as colorectal cancer, is warranted.