Racial trends in age-specific breast cancer mortality rates in US women.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined recent trends in age- and race-specific patterns of breast cancer mortality.


METHODS
We analyzed breast cancer mortality data for 1979 through 1996.


RESULTS
From 1993 to 1996, White women of all age groups experienced average annual decreases in breast cancer mortality. Throughout the study, young Black women had higher rates of breast cancer mortality than young White women. Older Black women had lower mortality rates than older White women in the earlier years of the study but experienced higher rates in the later years (1993-1996).


CONCLUSIONS
Trends in risk factors and early detection do not provide an adequate explanation for this recent substantial increase in breast cancer mortality among older Black women.
Marbella
A M
AM
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. marbella@enteract.com
Layde
P M
PM
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D044383:Black People; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American