OBJECTIVETo describe the mortality of colorectal and anal cancer in the Chinese population during 2004 - 2005.

METHODSMortality of colorectal and anal cancer from The 3rd National Death Retrospective Sampling Survey (2004 - 2005) were analyzed, with that the total population was 142 660 482 person-year and the number of death cases was 10 586. Crude death rate, age-standardized death rate by Chinese standard population (CASR) and world standard population (WASR), the constitute proportion to all cancer deaths and rank of cancer death were calculated and compared with The 1st (during 1973 - 1975) and The 2nd (during 1990 - 1992) National Death Retrospective Surveys.

RESULTSThe mortality of colorectal and anal cancer in China was 7.42/100 000 (10 586/142 660 482) during 2004 - 2005, accounting for 5.46% of total cancer deaths and ranked the 5th leading cause of death from cancer. CASR and WASR were 4.79/100 000 and 6.57/100 000, respectively. Gender specific mortality was higher for males with 8.38/100 000 (6114/72 970 241) than for females with 6.42/100 000 (4472/69 690 241). The crude death rates were 10.01/100 000 (4796/47 899 806) in urban areas and 6.11/100 000 (5790/94 760 676) in rural areas, moreover, the crude death rates in Eastern, Middle and Western part of China were 8.67/100 000 (4558/52 556 694), 7.19/100 000 (3580/49 781 225) and 6.07/100 000 (2448/40 322 563) respectively. Compared to the crude death rate 5.30/100 000 and CASR 4.54/100 000 during 1990 - 1992, the crude death rate and CASR from colorectal and anal cancer increased by 40.00% and 5.51%, whereas compared to the crude death rate 4.17/100 000 and CASR 4.27/100 000 during 1973 - 1975, the crude death rate and CASR had increased by 77.94% and 12.18% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe mortality of colorectal and anal cancer has been increasing rapidly in China. The mortality is higher in males, and appears to be diverse in different areas.