Abstract: ObjectiveTo analyze the deaths of lung cancer in Suzhou in past three decades, understand the influence of lung cancer on the residents’ health in Suzhou, and provide scientific evidence for evaluating the effect of prevention and treatment of lung cancer.MethodsDescriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted by using the incidence data of lung cancer deaths in Suzhou from 1985 to 2017, software SAS9.4 was used to calculate the mortality, the standardized mortality rate, potential years of life lost (PYLL), potential years of life lost rate (PYLLR), standardized potential years of life lost rate (SPYLLR) and average years of life lost (AYLL), the annual percentage change (APC) of these indexes was calculated by logarithmic linear regression method and to evaluate its time trend.ResultsThe mortality rate of lung cancer, both the crude one and standard one, in Suzhou showed an obvious increase from 1985 to 2017 (APC＝3.43%, 95% CI: 3.274–3.590,t＝–39.692, P=0.000; APC＝0.95%, 95% CI: 0.681–1.215,t＝–5.698, P=0.000). The annual mortality rate of lung cancer in men was 3.01 times higher than that in women (χ2＝541.590, P＝0.000). The mortality rate of lung cancer was lower in age group ＜40 years, and then increased rapidly with age. In terms of the time trend, an obvious increasing tendency in mortality rate was observed in age groups 70–79 years and 80– years (APC＝2.37%, 95% CI: 1.991–2.745,t＝–10.758, P＝0.000; APC＝5.61%, 95% CI: 5.034–6.188,t＝–17.681, P＝0.000). The annual PYLL of lung cancer was 10 866 person year, the PYLLR was 1.98‰, the SPYLLR was 1.83‰ and the AYLL was 9.97 years during 1985–2017. With the pass of year, the annual PYLL and PYLLR showed significant upward trends, the difference was significant (APC=1.48%, 95%CI: 1.238– 1.732,t＝–7.995, P＝0.000; APC＝0.98%, 95% CI: 0.707–1.249,t＝–6.798, P＝0.000). The others showed downward trends, the difference was significant (APC＝–0.81%, 95% CI: –1.113– –0.513,t＝5.533, P＝0.000; APC＝–0.55%, 95% CI: –0.691– –0.415,t＝9.483, P＝0.000).ConclusionThe mortality of lung cancer in residents in Suzhou is in increase and the burden of disease has become heavier. It is a serious threat to the residents’ health and life. It is urgent for all the social departments to take effective intervention measures to control the rising speed of the morbidity and mortality of lung cancer.