PANCREATIC CANCER MORTALITY TRENDS AND CORRELATION WITH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI) IN BRAZIL OVER 40 YEARS

Pancreatic cancer mortality is greater in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI). This study analyzed pancreatic cancer mortality rates trends, and their correlation with HDI in Brazil over 40 years.

Data on pancreatic cancer mortality in Brazil between 1979 and 2019 were obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM). Age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and Annual Average Percent Change (AAPC) were calculated. Pearson's correlation test was applied to compare mortality rates and HDI for three periods: 1986-1995 was correlated with HDI of 1991, 1996-2005 with HDI of 2000, and 2006-2015 with HDI of 2010; and to the correlation of AAPC versus the percentage change in HDI from 1991 to 2010.

A total of 209,425 deaths from pancreatic cancer were reported in Brazil, with an annual increase of 1.5% in men and 1.9% in women. There was an upward trend for mortality in most Brazilian states, with the highest trends observed in the North and Northeast states. A positive correlation between pancreatic mortality and HDI was observed over the three decades (r>0.80, P<0.05) and also between AAPC and HDI improvement by sex (r=0.75 for men and r=0.78 for women, P<0.05).

There was an upward trend in pancreatic cancer mortality in Brazil for both sexes, but rates among women were higher. Mortality trends were higher in states with a higher percentage improvement in HDI, such as the North and Northeast states.