OBJECTIVETo investigate the trend of total cancer mortality in Linqu County Shandong Province from 1980 to 2002.

METHODSA retrospective survey on all causes of death in 1980 - 1982, 1990 - 1992 and 2000 - 2002 was conducted in Linqu County, a high risk area of gastric cancer in Northeast of China, respectively.

RESULTSThe cancer death, was found the third leading cause of death in 1980 - 1982 in Linqu County, and the second to that of vascular disease in 2000 - 2002. The cancer mortality (standardized mortality) was 108.97/100,000 (111.48/100,000), 132.38/100,000 (127.94/100,000) and 148.48/100,000 (105.53/100,000) in 1980 - 1982, 1990 - 1992 and 2000 - 2002, respectively. The trend of cancer mortality was significantly increased (Z = 13.42, P < 0.0001). The added cancer-eliminated life expectancy in three periods was 2.46 years, 3.29 years and 3.76 years in male (F = 13.99, P < 0.0001), and 1.67 years, 2.30 and 2.33 years in female (F = 13.61, P < 0.0001), respectively. The standardized mortality of gastric cancer (percentage in all cancer death) was 44.93/100,000 (40.29%), 41.37/100,000 (32.34%) and 27.73/100,000 (26.90%) in 1980 - 1982, 1990 - 1992 and 2000 - 2002, respectively. The trend of gastric cancer standardized mortality was significantly reduced (Z = 6.35, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe mortality of cancer in Linqu County has been increased from 1980 to 2002, but no such trend was found after adjusting ages. However, there was a decreased trend on standardized mortality of gastric cancer in the past 20 years.