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Cancer research

Lung Cancer Mortality Rates Show Significant Disparities in Diverse Populations

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at Creighton University School of Medicine have published a study examining trends in lung cancer mortality rates in the United States from 1999 to 2022. The study, which utilized data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiology Research (WONDER) database, found that male lung cancer patients demonstrated greater mortality rates from pneumonia and influenza compared to females. The study also highlighted significant disparities in mortality rates among Black patients, who had the highest age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) over the study period, as well as among patients aged 75-84 and those living in rural areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Male lung cancer patients experienced significantly higher mortality rates from pneumonia and influenza compared to females (60.6% vs. 39.4%).
  • Black patients had the highest AAMR over the study period at 9.1 per 100,000 people in 1999, with a significant reduction to 4.9 per 100,000 people in 2022.
  • Patients aged 75-84 had the highest overall crude mortality rate at 28.3 per 100,000 people in 1999, with the lowest rate in ages 35-44 at 0.2 per 100,000 people in 2022.
  • Rural areas had consistently higher AAMRs compared to urban locations.
  • Targeted public health strategies addressing the unique needs of diverse populations, such as tobacco cessation, vaccination, and lung cancer screening, are essential in improving mortality rates.

Statistics:

  • Between 1999 and 2022, male lung cancer patients demonstrated a 60.6% mortality rate from pneumonia and influenza compared to 39.4% for females.
  • Black patients had the highest AAMR at 9.1 per 100,000 people in 1999 and 4.9 per 100,000 people in 2022.
  • Patients aged 75-84 had a crude mortality rate of 28.3 per 100,000 people in 1999 and 0.2 per 100,000 people in 2022.
  • Rural areas had consistently higher AAMRs compared to urban locations, with a 50% increase in mortality rates over the study period.

Sources:

  • Creighton University School of Medicine Researchers. (2025). Trends in influenza- and pneumonia-related mortality in lung cancer patients from 1999 to 2022: a retrospective CDC WONDER analysis. Respiratory Research, 26(1), 1-12. (Respiratory Research - http://respiratory-research.com/).
  • NewsRx. (2025, September 22). Creighton University School of Medicine Researchers Discuss Findings in Lung Cancer (Trends in influenza- and pneumonia-related mortality in lung cancer patients from 1999 to 2022: a retrospective CDC WONDER analysis). Cancer Vaccine Week, p 461.

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