Incidence and mortality from malignant mesothelioma 1982-2020 and relationship with asbestos exposure: the Australian Mesothelioma Registry

Karen Walker-Bone, Geza Benke, Ewan Macfarlane, S. Klebe, Ken Takahashi, Fraser Brims, Malcolm Ross Sim, Tim R. Driscoll

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives 

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon cancer associated with asbestos exposure, predominantly occupational. Asbestos has been banned in Australia since 2003 but mesothelioma has a long latency and incident cases continue to present. The Australian Mesothelioma Registry was incepted to collect systematic data about incidence and mortality alongside asbestos exposure. 

Methods 

Benefiting from the Australian national system of cancer notification, all incident cases of mesothelioma in all states and territories are fast-Tracked and notified regularly. Notified patients are contacted asking for consent to collect exposure information, initially by postal questionnaire and subsequently by telephone interview. Age-standardised annual incidence rates and mortality rates were calculated. Asbestos exposure was categorised as occupational, non-occupational, neither or, both; and as low, or high, probability of exposure. 

Results 

Mesothelioma incidence appears to have peaked. The age-standardised incidence rates have declined steadily since the early 2000s (peaking in males at 5.9/100 000 and in all-persons at 3.2/100 000), driven by rates in males, who comprise the majority of diagnosed cases. Rates in women have remained fairly stable since that time. Age-standardised mortality rates have followed similar trends. Mesothelioma remains the most common in those aged over 80 years. Nearly all (94%) cases were linked with asbestos exposure (78% occupational in men; 6.8% in women). 

Conclusions 

With effective control of occupational asbestos use, the decline in age-standardised incidence and death rates has occurred. Incidence rates among women, in whom occupational asbestos exposure is rarely detectable, remain unchanged, pointing to the role of household and /or environmental asbestos exposure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)186-191
Number of pages6
JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume80
Issue number4
Early online date14 Mar 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2023

Keywords

  • asbestos
  • mesothelioma
  • mortality
  • occupational health

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