Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Mortality in a Southern Brazilian Middle size Town, 1980-2005

Abstract

Oral cancer is responsible for 10% of the incident cases of cancer in the world. The aim of this study was to analyze the time-series trend in mortality from oral and pharyngeal cancer in Juiz de Fora (MG) from 1980 through 2005. A historical series of deaths from this municipality between 1980 and 2005 was used, whose period refers to the available mortality data supplied by the Ministry of Health. The rates per year and sex were standardized for the worldwide population. Data from 1989 to 1991 was obtained by interpolation. For trend study, it was opted to estimate the model of simple linear regression. Tendency to stability of mortality rates, with discrete positive variation was identified among women between 1980 and 2005, except for the pharyngeal cancer. Men showed higher mortality rates in each year and anatomic site, except for the oral cancers in the two last years of the 1980s. Regression models were not statistically significant. Although a tendency to mortality rates stability has been identified, policies for controlling carcinogens exposure associated to these anatomical sites are necessary, especially regarding tobacco. It is also important to stimulate tracking programs for risk populations, aiming to increase the survival of patients by early diagnosis.