Objective: Characterize the trends in mortality from cancer in Chile according to differences in educational level in the period 2000-2010 in the population over 20 years of age.
Methods: Calculation of specific mortality from cancer, age-adjusted for different educational levels, for the period 2000-2010. The obtained rates were analyzed using a Poisson regression model, calculating the relative inequality index and the slope index of inequality for each year.
Results: 232 541 deaths from cancer were reported in the period 2000-2010. The most frequent types were breast, stomach, and gallbladder cancer in women; and stomach, prostate, and lung cancer in men. Age-standardized mortality from cancer was greater in the lower educational levels, except for breast cancer in woman and lung cancer in men. The greatest differences were found in gallbladder cancer in women and stomach cancer in men, with specific mortality rates up to 49 and 63 times higher, respectively, for low educational levels compared to higher ones. Between 2000 and 2010, the differences in mortality by educational level were smaller for all cancers combined in both genders, for breast cancer in women, and for lung and stomach in men.
Conclusions: During the period studied, mortality from cancer in Chile was strongly associated with the educational level of the population. This information should be considered when designing national strategies to reduce specific mortality from cancer in the most vulnerable groups.