Age-related trends in mortality from COPD in Lithuania, 1989 to 1998.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the age-related trends in mortality from COPD in middle-aged and elderly populations of Lithuania during a 10-year period (1989 to 1998).


METHODS
Annual mortality was reported as the age-standardized mortality rates. Mortality rates were standardized to the 1989 European population. Trends in mortality were assessed by logarithmic regression coefficient beta that, expressed by percentage, estimated the average annual change in mortality.


RESULTS
Analysis of mortality from COPD in the Lithuanian population during this 10 years revealed that mortality rates directly related to older age, and the indexes of men in various age groups were twofold to threefold greater than those of women. Annual change in mortality assessed by logarithmic regression coefficient in men aged 35 to 64 years was - 5.7% (p = 0.002) and in age group >or= 65 years it was - 2.9% (p = 0.001); in women, the change in mortality was - 7.2% (p = 0.006) and - 2.5% (p = 0.03), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Mortality from COPD in Lithuania during the 10-year period was decreasing in middle-aged and elderly populations and in both men and women. Decrease in mortality occurred at a slower rate in the elderly population than in middle-aged population.
Lesauskaite
Vita
V
Geriatric Clinic, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania. lesauskaitevi@takas.lt
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality*; D012044:Regression Analysis