Tendência da mortalidade por câncer nas capitais e interior do Brasil entre 1980 e 2006 Cancer mortality trends in Brazilian state capitals and other

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To analyze the corrected trend of overall cancer mortality and leading sites in the state capitals and other municipalities of Brazil between 1980 and 2006. METHODS: Data on deaths (n = 2,585,012) caused by cancer between 1980 and 2006 were obtained from Sistema de Informacoes sobre Mortalidade (Mortality Information System), and demographic data were provided by Instituto Brasileiro de Geogra fi a e Estatistica (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). The rates of overall cancer mortality and major types were corrected by proportionally redistributing 50% of ill-defi ned causes of death and standardizing them by age according to the standard world population. Trend curves for Brazil and its major regions were calculated for state capitals and other municipalities according to sex, and were evaluated by means of simple linear regression. RESULTS: Among men, ascending mortality rates were observed for lung, prostate and colorectal cancer; declining rates for stomach cancer; and stable rates for esophagus cancer. Among women, mortality from breast, lung and colorectal cancer increased, and the rates for cervical and stomach cancer declined. Mortality evolution varied across the regions of Brazil, with distinct patterns between state capitals and other municipalities.