Increasing mortality from pulmonary embolism in Japan, 1951-2000.

In the United States, annual mortality rates from pulmonary embolism (PE) tended to increase from the 1960s to the mid 1980s, but thereafter began to decrease. In Japan, PE is not yet widespread and there have not been any reports of the time-trend of its mortality rate. The present study calculated the annual age-adjusted and age-specific PE mortality rates for Japanese residents during 1951 to 2000 from the 'Vital Statistics of Japan' and the census data and population estimates for the intercensal years. Throughout the study period, the age-adjusted deaths and mortality rates from PE continued to increase, and between 1976 and 1996 the increases in the annual age-specific mortality rates were substantial in males 45-49 years of age and 55 years or older, and in females 30 years of age or older. The age-specific PE death rates increased throughout the life span in general and according to the decade. Male mortality was greater at most ages. In Poisson regression analysis, the relative risk of death from PE was increased in males, the aged, and in recent years. Overall, mortality from PE in Japan increased significantly during 1951 to 2000.