OBJECTIVE: To analyse @entity0 mortality trends in Australia and to see if mammographic screening has yet led to a reduction in mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of trends in mortality rates from @entity0 in Australian @entity1 between 1921 and 1994, and in potentially explanatory variables such as fertility, body size, age at menarche, and screening. RESULTS: Changes in @entity0 mortality in Australian @entity1 could not be explained by chance variation alone. Mortality rose steadily (average annual increase, 1.0%) to 1940-1944, fell to the 1960s and early 1970s, and rose (average annual increase, 0.3%) to the late 1980s. Between 1985-1989 and 1990-1994, @entity0 mortality fell by 3.2% in @entity1 50-69 years of age (the target age group for mammographic screening) and by 4.2% in @entity1 25-49 years of age. There was almost on change (-0.2%) in @entity0 mortality in older @entity1 in this period. The proportion of @entity1 screened in all age groups increased substantially between 1988 and 1994; nearly 65% of @entity1 in the target age group had had at least one mammogram by 1994. Decreases in fertility were followed by increases in mortality, and vice versa. CONCLUSIONS: Trends in @entity0 mortality have probably been influenced by changing fertility, nutrition and body-size increases among Australian @entity1 . Improvements in stage at diagnosis and treatment have probably moderated the upwards pressure on mortality caused by an increasing incidence. Recent falls in mortality could be expected to continue as more @entity1 participate in the mammographic screening program. This trend should be more clearly evident in the second half of the 1990s.

XXXX mortality trends in Australia: 1921 to 1994.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer']
@entity0 :: (MESH:D001943,Disease) :: ['Breast cancer']
