Comparison of Time Trends in Lung Cancer Mortality (1990-2006) in the World, from the WHO Mortality Database

Mortality data, abstracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) database, are available for various countries. We used lung cancer mortality (ICD-10: C33–C34) in 11 countries during the period 1990–2006. These countries were Japan, China (Hong Kong) and the Republic of Korea (Asian countries); the United States of America (USA); Australia; the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Spain, France and Germany (European countries). For the USA, Spain and France, data were available only for 1990–2005; and for Australia and Italy, for 1990–2003. The world population was used for age standardization. Age-standardized rates for lung cancer mortality (ICD-10: C33–C34) in the 11 selected countries between 1990 and 2006 are shown for males (Fig. 1) and for females (Fig. 2). Trends in age-standardized lung cancer mortality rates over time (ICD-10: C33–C34) in 11 countries, males. Trends in age-standardized lung cancer mortality rate over time (ICD-10: C33–C34) in 11 countries, females. Note: Mortality data, abstracted from the World Health Organization mortality database, were downloaded from IARC CANCER Mondial Statistical Information System (http://www-dep.iarc.fr/). Data were tabulated by the authors of this article. Responsibility for this presentation and interpretation lies with the authors of this article. Lung cancer mortality rates were higher for males than for females (note that Figure 1 and 2 use different vertical scales). For males, mortality rates in eight countries [China (Hong Kong), USA, Australia, Russian Federation, UK, Italy, France and Germany] decreased throughout the period, whereas in other three countries, a downward trend started in the mid-1990s in Japan and Spain and in 2000 in Republic of Korea. The mortality rate in Japan was the lowest in the 11 countries and that in Russian Federation was the highest. Time trends in mortality rates for females were different from those for males. Out of 11 countries, only 2 [China (Hong Kong) and the Russian Federation] showed decreasing trends in mortality rates throughout the period. Mortality rates in five countries (Republic of Korea, Italy, Spain, France and Germany) increased throughout the period. For the USA, Australia, Japan and the UK, mortality rates remained constant. Mortality rates in Japan, Russian Federation and Spain were relatively low and those in Republic Korea, the USA and Italy were high in recent years.