Trends in cancer mortality in China from 2004 to 2018: A nationwide longitudinal study

Abstract Background The long‐term trend in cancer death in a rapidly developing country provides information for cancer prophylaxis. Here, we aimed to identify the trends in cancer mortality in China during the 2004‐2018 period. Methods Using raw data from the national mortality surveillance system of China, we assessed the mortalities of all cancer and site‐specific cancers during the 2004‐2018 period. The participants were divided into three age groups: ≥65 years, 40‐64 years, and ≤39 years. Changing trends in cancer death by gender, residency, and tumor location were estimated using fitting joinpoint models to log‐transformed crude mortality rates (CMRs) and age‐standardized mortality rates (ASMRs). Results Cancer death accounted for 24% of all‐cause of death in China during 2014‐2018. The CMR of all cancer was 150.0 per 100,000 persons. Cancer was the leading cause of death in the population <65 years. The six major cancer types (lung/bronchus cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, esophagus cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreas cancer) accounted for 75.85% of all cancer deaths. The CMR of all cancer increased while the ASMR decreased during 2014‐2018 (P < 0.001). Lung/bronchus cancer and liver cancer were the leading causes of cancer death in the population