Geographic variations in cancer incidence and mortality in the State of Sa & SIM;o Paulo, Brazil 2001-17

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil and the burden is rising. To better inform tailored cancer actions, we compare incidence and mortality profiles according to small areas in the capital and northeast region of the State of Sa & SIM;o Paulo for the leading cancer types.Methods: New cancer cases were obtained from cancer registries covering the department of Barretos (2003-2017) and the municipality of Sa & SIM;o Paulo (2001-2015). Cancer deaths for the same period were obtained from a Brazilian public government database. Age-standardized rates per 100,000 persons-years by cancer and sex are presented as thematic maps, by municipality for Barretos region, and by district for Sa & SIM;o Paulo.Results: Prostate and breast cancer were the leading forms of cancer incidence in Barretos, with lung cancer leading in terms of cancer mortality in both regions. The highest incidence and mortality rates were seen in municipalities from the northeast of Barretos region in both sexes, while elevated incidence rates were mainly found in Sa & SIM;o Paulo districts with high and very high socioeconomic status (SES), with mortality rates more dispersed. Breast cancer incidence rates in Sa & SIM;o Paulo were 30 % higher than Barretos, notably in high and very high SES districts, while corresponding rates of cervical cancer conveyed the opposite profile, with elevated rates in low and medium SES districts.Conclusions: There is substantial diversity in the cancer profiles in the two regions, by cancer type and sex, with a clear relation between the cancer incidence and mortality patterns observed at the district level and corresponding SES in the capital.

Automated summary

Cancer incidence and mortality profiles vary in different regions of Brazil, with differences in cancer types and socioeconomic status. Prostate and breast cancer are the leading forms of cancer in Barretos, while lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in both Barretos and Sao Paulo. District-level analysis shows that high socioeconomic status is associated with higher breast cancer incidence in Sao Paulo, while cervical cancer has higher rates in low and medium socioeconomic status districts.