title: Colorectal cancer mortality trends in Córdoba, Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide for men and women, and one of the most commonly diagnosed in Córdoba, Argentina. The aim of this work was to provide an up-to-date approach to descriptive epidemiology of colorectal cancer in Córdoba throughout the estimation of mortality trends in the period 1986-2006, using Joinpoint and age-period-cohort (APC) models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age-standardized (world population) mortality rates (ASMR), overall and truncated (35-64 years), were calculated and Joinpoint regression performed to compute the estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). Poisson sequential models were fitted to estimate the effect of age (11 age groups), period (1986-1990, 1991-1995, 1996-2000 or 2001-2006) and cohort (13 ten-years cohorts overlapping each other by five-years) on colorectal cancer mortality rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ASMR showed an overall significant decrease (EAPC -0.9 95%CI: -1.7, -0.2) for women, being more noticeable from 1996 onwards (EAPC -2.1 95%CI: -4.0, -0.1). Age-effect showed an important rise in both sexes, but more evident in males. Birth cohort- and period effects reflected increasing and decreasing tendencies for men and women, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in mortality rates were found according to sex and could be related to age-period-cohort effects linked to the ageing process, health care and lifestyle. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific age-, period- and cohort-related factors.
authors.affiliation: National Scientific and Technical Research Council, University of Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sonia Alejandra
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pou
authors.forename: Alberto Rubén
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Osella
authors.forename: Aldo Renato
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Eynard
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niclis
authors.forename: María del Pilar
authors.initials: Mdel P
authors.lastname: Diaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012307:Risk Factors