Background/Aim. Lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors account for
3.7% of all cancer deaths worldwide, with significant geographic variations
in frequency and distribution. The aim of this descriptive epidemiologic
study was to analyze the mortality rate of lip, oral cavity and pharynx
malignant tumors in Serbia proper within a period 1991-2009. Methods.
Mortality rates standardized directly using the world population as the
standard were used in data analysis. Linear trend and regression analyses
were used to analyze rate trends in mortality. Results. The Serbian
population demonstrated an increase in the mortality of lip, oral cavity and
pharynx malignant tumors (y = 3.32 + 0.03?; p = 0.002; average annual percent
change = + 0.8). The male population showed a significant increase in
mortality trend (y = 5.90 + 0.03?; p = 0.020; % change = + 0.9), while the
female population did not show a significant increase in mortality. The
male/female cancer mortality ratio was 5.5:1. Mortality rates for lip, oral
cavity and pharynx cancer increased with age in both genders, with rates
being the highest in the population aged 85 and older. Increasing trends of
lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality were observed in males aged
50-54; the average annual percent change was + 7.4 % (95% CI, 6.2-9.0). The
population of both genders aged 55-59 demonstrated an increase in lip, oral
cavity and pharynx cancer mortality, the increase being + 1.8% (95% CI,
1.4-2.2) in men and + 34.3% (95% CI, 28.4-40.2) in women. Conclusion. The
increasing trend in lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality points to
the necessity to investigate etiology and improve primary and secondary
prevention measures.
Comparison of Time Trends in Lip, Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer Mortality (1990-2006) Between Countries Based on the WHO Mortality Database
