Trends in morbidity and mortality for oesophageal cancer in linxian county, 1959–1983

Data on morbidity and mortality from oesophageal cancer (EC) over the 25 years from 1959-1983 indicate that this malignancy has been the commonest cause of death in Linxian (LX) county during that period, accounting for 16% of deaths from all causes and 65% of deaths from cancer. Whereas incidence and mortality of EC were high but stable during this period, a decline in mortality has been noted recently in younger age groups, coinciding with an improvement in nutritional standards. Cohort analysis for the period 1879-1954 demonstrates mortality peaks among individuals born late in the last century and early in the present one. It also shows that a decline in mortality appears to have started among natives of the county born during the period 1935-1954.