Objective: Breast cancer is the most lethal malignancy for women worldwide. Developed countries, such as Portugal, Spain, and the United States, have declining mortality rates due to breast cancer; however, in developing countries, the epidemiological reports are scarce. In this context, the aims of this study are to describe and discuss the female breast cancer profile of hospitalization and mortality according to age and geographic region in Brazil from 2008 to 2019.
Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health System Department of Informatics (DATASUS), maintained by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, which includes the registers of hospitalization and mortality by malignant neoplasm of breast (code C50, ICD-10). Proportional rates of hospitalization and deaths were estimated per 100,000 inhabitants according to respective subjects' age, region, and year of the occurrence.
Results: From 2008 to 2019, 643,822 hospital admissions due to malignant neoplasm of breast were reported in Brazil, of which the South and Southeast regions were the most prevalent. Higher hospitalization rates were seen in subjects aged 50-79-years-old. Regarding mortality, 53,480 deaths by breast cancer were reported; similarly to hospitalization, the Southeast and South were the most affected regions. Mortality rates have increased over time in different magnitudes depending on subjects' age.
Conclusion: We have shown an increase in morbidity and mortality over time, which is dependent on patients' age and region. The results presented here may contribute to the ongoing discussion about the role and future perspectives of the Brazilian health care system, especially regarding to the strategies for the prevention, control, and treatment of breast cancer.
Keywords: DATASUS; Epidemiology; Health care system; Malignant neoplasm of breast.
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