Regional variations in mortality rates of pancreatic cancer in China:Results from 1990-1992 national mortality survey

AIM:To examine the regional variations in mortality ratesof pancreatic cancer in China.METHODS:Aggregated mortality data of pancreatic cancerwere extracted from the 1990-1992 national death of allcauses and its mortality survey in China.Age specific andstandardized mortality rates were calculated at both nationaland provincial levels with selected characteristics includingsex and residence status.RESULTS:Mortality of pancreatic cancer ranked the ninthand accounted for 1.38 percent of the total malignancydeaths.The crude and age standardized mortality rates ofpancreatic cancer in China in the period of 1990-1992 were1.48/100 000 and 1.30/100 000,respectively.Substantialregional variations in mortality rates across China wereobserved with adjusted mortality rates ranging from 0.43/100 000 to 3.70/100 000 with an extremal value of 8.7.Urban residents had significant higher pancreatic mortalitythan rural residents.CONCLUSION:The findings of this study show differentmortality rates of this disease and highlight the importanceof further investigation on factors,which might contributeto the observed epidemiological patterns.