[Cancer mortality trends in Catalonia: 1975-1990]

Cancer is one of the most important health problems in developed countries. The aim of this paper is to analyze mortality trends due to cancer in Catalonia from 1975 to 1990.

Cancer mortality trends have been studied for each sex separately. Rates were standardized by direct method, using world population as standard; also, truncated (35-65 years old) and cumulative rates (0-74) were calculated. Annual percentage of change was estimated from a Poisson's regression model.

An increase of cancer mortality was observed between 1975 and 1990 among men but not in women. Lung cancer is the main cause of death from cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Both these cancers showed a significative increase in their mortality during the period of study. Among men, there is a significative increase in the following cancers: oral cavity, colon, pancreas, melanoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma; and there is a decrease in the following cancers: stomach, testicle and brain. Among women, there is a significative increase in cancer mortality due to the following: ovarian, colon, pancreas, melanoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; while decrease in the following: stomach, liver and uterus. Also, lung cancer mortality among women is decreasing.

The increasing trend observed in lung cancer mortality rates among men and in breast cancer among women are the main causes of concern. Therefore, priorities in cancer control underlined by this analysis should include emphasis on smoking control and developing breast cancer screening.