[Regional and chronological differences of urogenital cancer deaths in Japan]

We investigated the changing patterns of urogenital cancer deaths during the past 22 years in Japan.

We analyzed patients that died from cancer of the prostate, bladder and kidney between 1973-1994. Age-adjusted death rates (adjusted to the world population), standardized mortality ratios (SMR) according to each prefectures and age-specific death rates for each types of cancer were calculated and changes in these patterns were analyzed.

Age-adjusted death rates for cancer of the prostate increased from 2.29 in 1973 to 4.36 in 1994, a 1.9-fold increase. Death rates for cancer of the bladder were stable in males and declined in females. Death rates for cancer of the kidney (15 years or older) increased from 1.45 in 1973 to 2.72 in 1994, a 1.9-fold increase in males, and tended to increase in females as well. In the SMR analysis by prefecture, distribution in 1973-84 (former period) and that in 1985-94 (later period) were similar, and characteristic features were observed for each type of cancer. Age-specific death rates for cancer of the prostate and bladder rose by an index power of age, but that for cancer of the kidney reached a plateau or decreased after an index power increase to a certain age. The rate of increase in age-specific death rates (later period/former period) rose according to age, especially 70 years or older, in cancer of the prostate and kidney in both males and females. However, age-specific death rates in the later period from cancer of the bladder was higher only in patients 85 years or older, but was lower in other age groups.

Death rates for cancer of the prostate and kidney (15 years or older) tended to increase, while that of the bladder remained stable or decreased. It is expected that detection and treatment of these disease can be improved by utilizing these epidemiologic information.