Tendencia de la mortalidad por cáncer en Andalucía entre 1975 y 2003

Age-period-cohort effect on female breast cancer mortality in Southern Spain

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. The analysis of breast cancer mortality is needed to plan healthcare systems. This study aims to evaluate the age-period-cohort effects on breast cancer mortality in Andalusia (Southern Spain) as a whole and in each of its eight provinces during the period 1981-2008. A population-based ecological study was conducted. In all, 19,707 deaths from breast cancer were analysed for individuals between the ages of 40 and 84 years who died in Andalusia in the period of study. A nonlinear regression model was estimated for each gender group and geographical area. The effects of age, year of death and birth cohort were parameterised using B-spline smoothing functions. There is an upward trend in mortality by age until around the age of 75 years, from which point the trend turned downwards. The analysis of the cohort effect reveals a steady fall in breast cancer mortality risk for female generations born after 1940. Death rates increased until 1995 and then declined until the end of the period. There is an age-period-cohort effect on breast cancer mortality similar in all the provinces of Andalusia and for Andalusia as a whole. If the current trends continue, it can be expected that these effects will continue to reduce female mortality.

[Clinical care characteristics and factors associated with in-hospital mortality for lung cancer in Spain]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Lung cancer causes high morbimortality in Spain and is currently experiencing a significant increase in women. The aim of this study was to describe differential clinical and health care characteristics by sex, as well as factors associated with and geographic differences of in-hospital mortality.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Descriptive study of episodes registered in the National Hospital Discharge Minimum Basic Data Set for admission type and gender in 2005. Two logistic regression models by sex were built in order to explain the individual influence of variables on in-hospital mortality. Using predictive values of the models, standardized mortality rates were calculated to study the variation between Spanish regions.

RESULTS

Women presented a lower mean age, smoking habit and in-hospital mortality than men. However, women presented more adenocarcinomas, greater care in high volume centers, more surgery in readmissions and were subjected to chemotherapy more often in new admissions than men. Adenocarcinoma in men and no specific location in women were associated with higher mortality. Smoking habit and lung diagnosis procedures in men, and middle lobe location and bronchoscopy in women were associated with lower mortality. The geographical mortality pattern detected was similar in both sexes only in some regions of Spain.

CONCLUSIONS

Differential clinical characteristics, health care and overall results appear to exist depending on individuals' gender. Recognition of these differences are crucial in order to improve the effectiveness and equity of our health care system.