[Stomach cancer mortality in Brazil: from 1977 to 1989]

Both incidence and mortality of stomach cancer have been declining in most of the world in the last decades. However, this phenomenon has not been studied in Brazil. Although data on incidence rates are insufficient, there is a standardized historical series on mortality data beginning in 1977. This study analyzes trends for stomach cancer mortality during the 1977-1989 period for Brazil and Brazilian State capitals, using the standardized mortality rates of stomach cancer (standardized population: Brazil-1980). The results showed that mortality rates have been decreasing in Brazil as a whole and nearly all of the State capitals. However, differences in mortality-rate trends appeared when patterns and location of death were analyzed. The decline was most evident in the Southeast, South, and Center-West, similar to that of European countries. Although stomach cancer is still an important cause of fatal cancer (particularly in males), stomach cancer mortality is currently less important than lung and breast cancer mortality in these regions. Unfortunately, we lack historical incidence series to compare with mortality data to determine whether they reflect actual trends in the incidence of stomach cancer in Brazil.