Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in Finland, but it has a higher mortality rate than other cancers. However, the lung cancer mortality of Helsinki residents has decreased significantly, with the lung cancer mortality of men having decreased by over 50% since the early 1990s.
The lung cancer mortality of women in Helsinki has been lower than that of men throughout this period, and it has also decreased significantly less. The lung cancer mortality of women has decreased by a total of approximately 10% since the early 1990s.
The lung cancer mortality of highly educated people has decreased the fastest
The lung cancer mortality of men in Helsinki has decreased across all levels of education. In relative terms, the decrease has been the fastest among men who have a higher education degree.
By contrast, the lung cancer mortality of women in Helsinki has decreased only among those who have a higher education degree. At the same time, the mortality of women who have completed upper secondary education or only basic education has remained the same or even increased.
Mortality has decreased faster in Helsinki than the rest of the country
The lung cancer mortality of both men and women has long been higher in Helsinki than the rest of Finland. However, this difference no longer exists for men, as the lung cancer mortality of men has decreased significantly faster in Helsinki than in the rest of the country.
The lung cancer mortality of women is still higher in Helsinki than elsewhere in Finland. However, it has followed different trends in Helsinki and the rest of the country: while the lung cancer mortality of women has slightly decreased in Helsinki, elsewhere in Finland it has continued to slowly increase.
Smoking has decreased faster in Helsinki than the rest of Finland
A significant proportion of lung cancers are caused by smoking, and changes in the prevalence of smoking are reflected in lung cancer mortality with a delay. For a long time, daily smoking was significantly more common in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area than in the rest of the country among both men and women.
However, by the beginning of the 21st century, daily smoking among men had become slightly less common in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area than in the rest of Finland. Daily smoking among women remained more common in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area than the rest of the country for longer, but since the mid-2010s, it has also been less common than in Finland on average.
Differences in mortality between levels of education are explained by smoking
Smoking is characterised by significant socio-economic differences. For example, at present men in Helsinki who have only completed basic education are over four times more likely to smoke than men who have completed a higher education degree. Among women, those who have completed basic or upper secondary education are three times more likely to smoke than those who have completed a higher education degree. As such, smoking is a key factor in explaining differences in mortality between levels of education.
In addition to causing human suffering, smoking is estimated to cost society billions of euros annually. Since smoking among highly educated people has already decreased significantly, it is essential to now focus on decreasing smoking among those with a low level of education.
