Lung — ICD 162

Abstract

Cancer of the lung has become the predominant form of cancer in men and a major problem for women. The ASMR in men was 23.8 in 1963 and 57.3 in 1982, while the respective figures for women were 3.9 and 7.2. The time trend calculated for the years 1963–1982 shows a mean annual increase rate of 7.26% for men and 4.1% for women. The frequency of lung cancer increases after the age of 45 years in both sexes. There is a decrease in men aged 65–70. In 1982, the curve peaked at 380 per 100000 in men and 50 per 100000 in women. Compared with 1963, the curves in 1982 had their peaks at much higher levels, whereas the shape of these curves was similar for both these periods. The age-specific rates for men show a permanent increase in risk in all age groups over successive calendar years. In women, the increase was more rapid after the 1970s, especially in the older age groups. A cohort analysis shows a steady increase in risk after the cohort born between 1901 and 1905. The frequency did not rise in the three oldest cohorts. Analysis of the successive birth cohorts shows that the 1940 cohort has a risk which is several dozen times higher in men and several times higher in women than the 1880 cohort.