An Assessment of Changes in Excess Mortality of Males Aged 65 and More in the Period 1999–2013 in the Lodz Region

The paper aims to analyse the trends in mortality of men and women aged 65 and more in the Lodz region in the period 1999–2013, with particular emphasis on the phenomenon of excess male mortality. A complete database of deaths registered in the Lodz region in the period 1999–2013 (471.397) constituted our empirical material. Crude death rates among males and females were calculated. Standardization was carried out using the direct method. The European population was adopted as a standard. In addition, specific mortality rates according to the causes of death based on ICD–10 and the excess mortality rates were calculated. An analysis of time trends was performed with the use of joinpoint models. Average annual percentage rates of changes were estimated. Our calculations enabled to identify the most important causes of death for people aged 65 and more in 2013. Among males the rates (per 10.000) were as follows: cardiovascular diseases (301.2), malignant neoplasms (160.2), diseases of the respiratory system (56.0), diseases of the digestive system (24.4) and external causes (19.4). A similar distribution of causes was observed among women, where the rates were as follows, respectively: 270.1; 82.9; 32.0; 19.6; 11.2. Compared to 1999, the largest decline in mortality rate, among both males and females, was observed for cardiovascular diseases. Excess mortality rate of males aged 65 and more reached the highest values (2.2–2.6) throughout the considered period in the age group 65–69 years, while the lowest (1.1–1.3) were observed in the interval of 85 years and more. The greatest rate of change (2.5% per year) was recorded in years 1999–2007 in the age group of 70–74 years. Despite the observed decline in mortality rates, excess mortality of men aged 65 and more did not change significantly over the period of 1999 to 2013, and principally was due to: malignant neoplasms, diseases of the respiratory system and external causes.