Increase income and mortality of colorrectal cancer in Brazil, 2001-2009

Several international studies have observed a correlation between the improvement of socio-demographic indicators and rates of incidence and mortality from cancer of the colon and rectum.

The objective of this study is to estimate the correlation between average per capita income and the rate of colorectal cancer mortality in Brazil between 2001 and 2009.

We obtained data on income inequality (Gini index), population with low incomes (½ infer the minimum wage/month), average family income, per capita ICP and mortality from colon cancer and straight between 2001-2009 by DATASUS. A trend analysis was performed using linear regression, and correlation between variables by Pearson's correlation coefficient.

There was a declining trend in poverty and income inequality, and growth in ICP per capita and median family income and standardized mortality rate for colorectal cancer in Brazil. There was also strong positive correlation between mortality from this site of cancer and inequality (men r = -0.30, P = 0.06, women r = -0.33, P = 0.05) income low income (men r = -0.80, P<0.001, women r = -0.76, P<0.001), median family income (men r = 0.79, P = 0.06, women r = 0.76, P<0.001) and ICP per capita (men r = 0.73, P<0.001, women r = 0.68, P<0.001) throughout the study period.

The increase of income and reducing inequality may partially explain the increased occurrence of colorectal cancer and this is possibly due to differential access to food recognized as a risk factor, such as red meat and high in fat. It is important therefore to assess the priority of public health programs addressing nutrition in countries of intermediate economy, as is the case of Brazil.