Abstract:
Background: Lung cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In Brazil, despite advances in tobacco-control policies, mortality patterns may vary according to sociodemographic and regional characteristics, highlighting important inequalities in the burden of the disease.
Objective: To analyse lung cancer mortality in the Brazilian adult population according to sociodemographic and regional characteristics from 2013 to 2023.
Methods: This ecological, descriptive, observational study used secondary data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM), available through the TABNET/DATASUS platform. Deaths due to malignant neoplasms of the bronchi and lungs (ICD-10 code C34) among individuals aged ≥40 years between 2013 and 2023 were included. Variables analysed were sex, age group, region of residence, race/skin color, and educational level. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including absolute and relative frequencies and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants.
Results: A total of 307,040 lung cancer deaths were recorded during the study period. Most deaths occurred among males (56.89%), although mortality rates progressively increased among females over the years. Individuals aged 60–69 years accounted for the largest proportion of deaths (30.85%), followed by those aged 70–79 years (29.50%), while the highest mortality rate was observed among individuals aged ≥80 years. The White population accounted for 60.51% of deaths, followed by the Brown population (29.28%).
Regarding educational level, deaths were more frequent among individuals with 1–3 years (23.40%) and 4–7 years (22.37%) of schooling; however, 16.17% of records had unknown educational information. Regionally, the Southeast accounted for the largest proportion of deaths (45.47%), followed by the South (23.79%) and Northeast (19.39%). The South presented the highest mortality rates throughout the analysed period, whereas the North had the lowest. A slight increase in mortality rates was observed across all regions from 2022 onward.
Conclusion: Lung cancer mortality in Brazil from 2013 to 2023 showed important sociodemographic and regional differences, with a greater burden among males, older individuals, and populations living in the Southeast and South regions. The findings reinforce the need for continued surveillance and public policies aimed at reducing risk factors and inequalities in access to healthcare.
