Epidemiological Evaluation of Patients with Cancer in the Upper Aerodigestive Tract: Relevance of Alcohol and Tobacco Risk Factors

Abstract

Introduction: The causes of many cancers can be attributed to environmental factors, in which factors related to lifestyle can be highlighted. Objective: To analyze clinical and socio-demographic aspects of patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer treated in the Department of Head and Neck of Cassiano Antônio Moraes University Hospital in the period from 2005 to 2007. Methods: This is an exploratory, descriptive and quantitative study, using institutional data. The variables studied were: gender, age range, skin color, educational background, occupation, residency, primary tumor site, TNM and clinical staging, histological type, death, family cancer history and alcohol and tobacco consumption. Results: Among the 162 patients investigated, prevalence occurred among men (80.9%), brown skin color (51.9%), low educational background, residing in the metropolitan region of the state of Espírito Santo (79%), average age from 51 to 60, bricklayers (14.2%), 79% used to consume alcohol and 88.2% tobacco. The more expressive histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (78.4%), the most affected primary anatomical site was the oral cavity (45.7%), 78.4% of patients had advanced stage disease at diagnosis and 48.8% f deaths were detected. Conclusion: This study identified the need for the implementation of rating scales of alcohol and tobacco consumption and a deficiency in the support offered by this Department to reduce or interrupt the use of such drugs.