China lung cancer mortality rises due to aging population

A study published in Cancer Biology & Medicine reveals that lung cancer mortality in China is being heavily influenced by an aging population. Researchers from the National Cancer Center (China), the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Peking Union Medical College analyzed data from the China Causes of Death Surveillance Dataset, covering 2.37 billion person-years from 2013 to 2021.

The findings indicate a divergence in mortality trends: while the crude lung cancer mortality rate rose by 2.3% annually between 2013 and 2021, the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) remained stable and actually declined by 2.9% per year after 2015. This suggests that while prevention and medical advancements may be improving outcomes for individuals, the sheer increase in the number of elderly citizens is driving up the total number of deaths.

Key risk factors contributing to the burden include pervasive smoking rates—with 26.6% of Chinese adults smoking in 2018—high exposure to secondhand smoke, rapid industrialization, and air pollution. Projections suggest that the number of people aged 60 and older in China could exceed 500 million by 2050, further complicating the public health landscape.