Mesothelioma Mortality Rates in Greece for the Period 2005-2015 Is Increased Compared to Previous Decades

Our plain-English summary of Mesothelioma Mortality Rates in Greece for the Period 2005-2015 Is Increased Compared to Previous Decades, by E. Gogou, C. Hatzoglou, S.G. Zarogiannis, et al (Medicina, 2019).

The study

• Authors: E. Gogou, C. Hatzoglou, S.G. Zarogiannis, F. Malli, R.M. Jagirdar, K.I. Gourgoulianis
• Journal: Medicina
• Published: 2019;55(8)
• Cited by: 6 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Background and Objective: To present summary statistics regarding malignant mesothelioma (MM) mortality in Greece during the period 2005-2015 and compare it with previous decades, along with gender, age and geographical area analysis. Materials and Methods: The Hellenic Statistical Authority provided the data, which included all deaths for the period 1983 to 2015 that mentioned MM as the death cause in the corresponding death certificate. MM mortality rates have been calculated with respect to gender, age, and geographical location in Greece. Furthermore, a comparison analysis was made among three eleven consecutive year periods, in order to assess potential changes in the mortality rates. Results: The MM mortality rate has significantly increased during the period 2005-2015 both in males and females compared to earlier decades. The maximum number of MM deaths has shifted to an older age group of 70-80 years during the 2005-2015 period as compared to that of 1983-2004 in both genders. Additionally, MM mortality rates have significantly increased in all geographical areas except for the Epirus Prefecture. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate an increased MM mortality rate in Greece for the decade 2005-2015 as compared to the two previous decades. This increase is possibly due to the fact that the peak in asbestos production and use in Greece was in mid 1990s, while the asbestos ban came in effect in 2005. Based on these findings the MM epidemic in Greece has not yet peaked, therefore it is important to implement screening strategies for early MM detection.

In plain English

This study used Hellenic Statistical Authority records of all deaths in Greece from 1983 to 2015 that mentioned malignant mesothelioma as a cause of death. The authors compared mortality rates across three 11-year periods. The overall rate was 0.048 per 100,000 population in 1983–1993, 0.16 in 1994–2004 and 0.35 in 2005–2015, which the authors described as a sevenfold and a twofold increase. Rates also rose in males (0.058, 0.25 and 0.56 per 100,000) and in females (0.037, 0.074 and 0.16 per 100,000). Of 455 deaths in 2004–2015, 353 were in males. The age group with the most deaths shifted from 60–69 years in 1983–2004 to 70–79 years in 2005–2015. Regional rates for 2004–2015 were compared with 1983–2003. They rose significantly in all areas except Epirus, where the rate stayed the same. The authors noted that better diagnosis, record-keeping and awareness may explain part of the increase. They concluded that the rise probably reflects asbestos production and use in Greece, and that the epidemic has most probably not yet peaked.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Descriptive study of national mortality statistics from death certificates, comparing mesothelioma mortality rates across time periods, sex, age and geographical area
• Who was studied: All deaths in Greece from 1983 to 2015 with malignant mesothelioma mentioned as a cause of death, from the Hellenic Statistical Authority. The period was divided into 1983–1993, 1994–2004 and 2005–2015. There were 455 deaths in 2004–2015, 353 of them male.
• Exposure: Individual asbestos exposure was not measured. The authors related the trends to asbestos production and use in Greece: production started in the 1960s, peaked in the 1990s, and asbestos was banned in Greece in 2005. Fiber types are not specified.
• Main results:
  • Overall mesothelioma mortality rate was 0.048/100,000 population in 1983–1993, 0.16/100,000 in 1994–2004 and 0.35/100,000 in 2005–2015 (ANOVA p less than 0.001)
  • The authors described the 2005–2015 rate as a sevenfold increase over 1983–1993 and a twofold increase over 1994–2004
  • Males: 0.058/100,000 (1983–1993), 0.25/100,000 (1994–2004), 0.56/100,000 (2005–2015), ANOVA p less than 0.001
  • Females: 0.037/100,000 (1983–1993), 0.074/100,000 (1994–2004), 0.16/100,000 (2005–2015), ANOVA p less than 0.001
  • In 2004–2015, 353 of 455 mesothelioma deaths (77.5%) were in males
  • The maximum number of deaths was in the 70–79 age group in 2005–2015, compared with 60–69 in 1983–2004, for both sexes
  • Compared with 1983–2003, regional rates in 2004–2015 increased significantly in all areas except Epirus, which stayed the same. The highest 2004–2015 rate was in Sterea Ellada.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that mesothelioma mortality in Greece increased in 2005–2015 compared with the two previous decades. They attributed this probably to asbestos production and use, said the epidemic has most probably not yet peaked, and said further increases are expected.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors stated that the increase from the first period could be due to improved diagnostic procedures and improved maintenance of statistical data
  • The authors stated that the increased rates may partly reflect increased awareness and diagnosis

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Mesothelioma, Death Certificate.

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