Regularities in the Dynamics of Age-Specific Indicators of Mortality from Malignant Neoplasms in Russian Population

Every year, more than 600 000 (617 177 in 2017) new cases of malignant neoplasms (MNPs) are registered in Russia, and annual cancer mortality exceeds 290 000 (290 622 in 2017). Malignant tumors rank second (15.9% in 2017) after cardiovascular mortality (48.8% in 2017), while success in their treatment elevated MNPs to first place in some economically developed countries. In many administrative territories of Russia, the proportion of MNP in the total mortality is 20–25%. MNPs are mass noncommunicable diseases that are most strongly associated with the age structure of the population. More than 70% (72.59%) of patients and ~80% (79.07%) of deaths in Russia are registered in patients at retirement age. From the 1960 census to the present, the proportion of people of retirement age group in the age structure of the population has doubled, which, of course, affected the MNP incidence and mortality rate. The system of population-based cancer registers created in the 1990s contributed to the improved reliability of the consolidated data provided by the country’s oncological service. This opened up the opportunity to conduct in-depth epidemiological studies of the prevalence of MNP. This work pays special attention to the age patterns in the dynamics of MNP mortality indicators in the Russian population and takes into account the gender of the patients and the prevailing localization of neoplasms. The presented dynamics includes structural specifics of oncopathology for men and women of various age groups. The established patterns of reduced mortality in Russia’s population expressed in standardized indicators over a long period indicate that the anticancer policies pursued in the country have achieved real success.