title: [Trends in COPD mortality in Iceland 1951-1990].
abstract: We collected information about mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) in Iceland during the time period 1951-1990. During these 40 years only nine individuals younger than 45 years died of bronchial asthma (7 women and 2 men). The mean population during that time period was 149,921 and the mean asthma mortality ratio was 0.15/100,000/year in the age group 0-44 years. The mean mortality ratio in asthma was during the time period 1981-1990: 4.7/ 100,000/year for women and 2.4/100,000/year for men. Compared to the time period 1951-1960 there was a threefold increase in the total mortality in chronic bronchitis in 1981-1990 when the mean mortality ratio was 8.7/100,000/year among men and 7.6/ 100,000/year among women. There was even a greater increase in mortality in emphysema during the 40 years time period and during 1981-1990 the mean mortality ratio was 13.0/100,000/year among men and 11.5 for women. There has been a substantial change in age distribution of the Icelandic population during the time period 1951-1990. Examination of standardized mortality ratio (SMR) shows a tenfold increase in SMR among women in emphysema and a threefold increase in mortality in chronic bronchitis. Among men the SMR for both asthma and chronic bronchitis varied during the time period but there was almost a threefold increase in SMR for emphysema. Thus, there was a relatively greater increase in SMR in COPD among women than men.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Gislason
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Tomasson