Breast cancer mortality trends in Brazil and selected states

Abstract

PURPOSE: Describe Breast Cancer Mortality Trends in Brazil and in selected states according to age group. METHODS: In this paper the Mortality Information System data bank of 1980 to 2003 was analysed. The mortality trend analysis was performed through model adjustment and the Lowess non parametric technique for smoothing the rates. RESULTS: In Brazil the pattern rate of breast cancer mortality increased between the years of 1980 to 1994 and it became stable between 1995 to 2003 at 10 death per 100 thousand women/year In the selected states analysis from 1990 to 2003 in the 30 to 49 years of age group there was an increase of deaths by breast cancer in the Mato Grosso do Sul State, in the 50 to 59 years of age group the increase occured in the States of Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul, in the 60 to 69 years of age group there were increases in the Paraná and Pernambuco States and decrease in the Rio de Janeiro State, in the 70 years old age group the rate increase occurred in Pernambuco, Espírito Santo, Paraná, São Paulo e Mato Grosso do Sul States CONCLUSION: Mortality rate due to breast cancer have a tendency to increase in Brazil, very likely because the disease is diagnosed in advanced stages. The presented analysis is irreplaceable for subsidizing the elaborating of effective control policies for the disease, respecting the regional peculiarities.