[Breast cancer mortality in Brazilian municipalities and associated factorsMortalidad por cáncer de mama en municipios brasileños y factores asociados]

Impacts of Sociodemographic Factors, Screening, and Organization of Health Services on Breast Cancer Mortality in Brazil: An Ecological Study of 20 Years

Background

Breast cancer mortality is increasing in Brazil. This study examines the impact of sociodemographic factors, screening procedures, and primary healthcare (PHC) on breast cancer mortality.

Methods

An ecological study analyzed secondary data of women diagnosed with breast cancer who died between 2000 and 2019. Sociodemographic factors, screening procedures, and PHC were examined in relation to breast cancer mortality. Statistical analyses included normality tests, Kruskal-Wallis and one-way ANOVA tests with post hoc comparisons, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests, age-period-cohort analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression analysis. Significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Mortality rates were higher in the southeast (15.77) and south (15.97) regions compared to the north (5.07) (p < 0.0001). Survival rates were longer in the southeast (70.3 ± 0.05) and south (70.6 ± 0.09) than in the north (63.98 ± 0.053) (p ≤ 0.001). Mortality increased with age after 32 years (p ≤ 0.001). Brown and indigenous women had lower mortality and survival rates. Increased coverage of PHC, ultrasound, and biopsy did not reduce mortality. However, improved cytopathologic analysis led to a decrease in mortality.

Conclusions

Sociodemographic factors, screening procedures, and PHC are specific predictors of breast cancer mortality in Brazil.

Intra-urban spatial variability of breast and cervical cancer mortality in the city of São Paulo: analysis of associated factors

OBJECTIVE

To identify spatial variability of mortality from breast and cervical cancer and to assess factors associated in the city of São Paulo.

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2016, 10,124 deaths from breast cancer and 2,116 deaths from cervical cancer were recorded in the Mortality Information System among women aged 20 years and over. The records were geocoded by address of residence and grouped according to Primary Health Care coverage areas. A spatial regression modeling was put together using the Bayesian approach with a Besag-York-Mollié structure to verify the association of deaths with selected indicators.

RESULTS

Mortality rates from these types of cancer showed inverse spatial patterns. These variables were associated with breast cancer mortality: travel time between one and two hours to work (RR - relative risk: 0.97; 95%CI - credible interval: 0.93-1.00); women being the head of the household (RR 0.97; 95%CI 0.94-0.99) and deaths from breast cancer in private health institutions (RR 1.04; 95%CI 1.00-1.07). The following variables were associated with mortality from cervical cancer: travel time to work between half an hour and one hour (RR 0.92; 95%CI 0.87-0.98); per capita household income of up to 3 minimum wages (RR 1.27; 95%CI 1.18-1.37) and ratio of children under one year of age related to the female population aged 15 to 49 years (RR 1.09; 95%CI 1.01-1.18).

CONCLUSION

The predicted RR for mortality from these cancers were calculated and associated with the socioeconomic conditions of the areas covered.

Challenge of Incorporating New Drugs for Breast Cancer in Brazil: A Proposed Framework for Improving Access to Innovative Therapies

PURPOSE

The objective of this review is to address the barriers limiting access to treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in Brazil, specifically for patients in the public health care system, arguably those with the least access to innovation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A selected panel of Brazilian experts in BC were provided with a series of relevant questions to address in a multiday conference. During the conference, responses were discussed and edited by the entire group through numerous drafts and rounds of discussion until a consensus was achieved.

RESULTS

The authors propose specific and realistic recommendations for implementing access to new drugs in cancer care in Brazil. Moreover, in creating these recommendations and framework, the authors strive to address the most important barriers and impediments for technology incorporation. A feasible and specific multidisciplinary process is proposed, which is based on the collective participation of all involved stakeholders.

CONCLUSION

Given the current benefits and likely future developments, there is a great need to expand treatments for mBC not only in Brazil but also in most other countries in the world where access issues remain an unresolved demand. Adapting the current framework is essential for accomplishing this goal. The recommendations in this review can serve as a framework for adoption of new technologies in countries with limited resources.

Premature mortality due to cervical cancer: study of interrupted time series

OBJECTIVE:

To verify the effect of the Pact for Health on premature mortality (30–69 years) attributed to cervical cancer in Brazil and its macroregions, using interrupted time series analysis.

METHODS:

Segmented regression was used to assess “change in level” and “change in trend” in premature mortality rates attributed to cervical cancer considering the post-Pact period (2010-2018), controlling by the pre-Pact period (1998–2006). Understanding the triennium 2007-2009 as essential for the adoption and implementation of the policy, it was excluded from the main modeling, but assessed in the sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS:

From 1998 to 2018, there were more than 119,000 deaths due to cervical cancer in women aged 30 to 69 years in Brazil. The Northern region experienced the highest rates (> 20 per 100,000). Comparing with baseline (1998–2006), segmented regression showed a progressive increase in changing trend from cervical cancer deaths in Brazil as a whole (coefficient = 0.513; 95%CI 0.430 to 0.596) and in the Southeast region (coefficient = 0.515; 95%CI 0.358 to 0.674), South region (coefficient = 0.925; 95%CI 0.642 to 1.208), and Midwest region (coefficient = 0.590; 95%CI 0.103 to 1.077). The Northeast region presented the most promising effects with immediate reduction in change level (-0.635; 95%CI −1.177 to −0.092) and progressive reduction in the changing trend of premature deaths (coefficient= −0.151; 95%CI −0.231 to −0.007).

CONCLUSIONS:

Premature mortality rates due to cervical cancer are high in Brazil and its macroregions. This interrupted time series was not able to reveal the effectiveness of initiatives related to the Pact for Health on premature deaths from cervical cancer nationally and in all macroregions equally. The best results are restricted to the Northeast region.

Inequalities in the burden of female breast cancer in Brazil, 1990-2017

Background

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. In recent decades, breast cancer death rates have been stable or decreasing in more developed regions; however, this has not been observed in less developed regions. This study aims to evaluate inequalities in the burden of female breast cancer in Brazil including an analysis of interregional and interstate patterns in incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates from 1990 to 2017, and mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR), and their association with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI).

Methods

Using estimates from the global burden of disease (GBD) study, we applied a spatial exploratory analysis technique to obtain measurements of global and local spatial correlation. Percentage changes of breast cancer incidence, mortality, and DALYs rates between 1990 and 2017 were calculated, and maps were developed to show the spatial distribution of the variables. Spatial panel models were adjusted to investigate the association between rates and SDI in Brazilian states.

Results

In Brazil, while breast cancer mortality rate have had modest reduction (−4.45%; 95% UI: −6.97; −1.76) between 1990 and 2017, the incidence rate increased substantially (+39.99%; 95% UI: 34.90; 45.39). Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in 1990 and 2017 were higher in regions with higher SDI, i.e., the most developed ones. While SDI increased in all Brazilian states between 1990 and 2017, notably in less developed regions, MIR decreased, more notably in more developed regions. The SDI had a positive association with incidence rate and a negative association with MIR.

Conclusion

Such findings suggest an improvement in breast cancer survival in the period, which may be related to a broader access to diagnostic methods and treatment. This study also revealed the inequality in breast cancer outcomes among Brazilian states and may guide public policy priorities for disease control in the country.

Health Services, Socioeconomic Indicators, and Primary Care Coverage in Mortality by Lower Genital Tract and Breast Neoplasias in Brazilian Women during Reproductive and Non-Reproductive Periods

Women's health assistance at the low-complexity level is focused on the most common diseases and can be affected by primary health care coverage, particularly in areas far away from large urban centers. Thus, in this work, we aim to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic status, health care indicators, and primary care coverage in mortality from neoplasms of the lower genital tract and breast in Brazilian women during reproductive and non-reproductive periods. We conducted an ecological study at the Gynecology Discipline, Medicine School, University of São Paulo. Secondary data were collected from women according to reproductive periods and mortality data from the Mortality Information System based on International Classification of Disease-10th edition regarding breast and lower genital tract neoplasms in 2017. The health service and socioeconomic indicators were obtained from the Informatics Department of the Unified Health System and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Our results showed that primary care coverage and health service indicators were not associated with mortality from breast cancer and the female lower genital tract, both in reproductive and non-reproductive periods. Sociodemographic indicators were found to be associated with mortality from breast cancer and the female lower genital tract, with income being associated with reproductive period (β = -0.4; 95% CI, -0.8 to -0.03) and educational level in the non-reproductive period (β = 9.7; 95% CI, 1.5 to 18.0).

Itinerários terapêuticos de mulheres com câncer docolo doútero na Bahia, Brasil

Objetivo: analisar os itinerários terapêuticos de mulheres com câncer do colo do útero (CCU) a partir do tratamento, na região Sudoeste da Bahia, Brasil.Materiais e métodos: estudo qualitativo descritivo e exploratório realizado em uma unidade de alta complexidade em oncologia que é referência para a região sudoeste da Bahia. Cinco mulheres em tratamento para o CCU foram entrevistadas, sendo a coleta de dados realizada a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas e registros em diário de campo, no período de julho a agosto de 2017. Adotou-se a análise categorial temática.Resultados: emergiram duas categorias empíricas: aspectos simbólicos e experiências de mulheres em tratamento para o CCU e a busca por tratamentos para o CCU. As racionalidades e práticas acionadas no curso dos itinerários revelaram a externalização de signos e significados da doença a partir de elementos biomédicos e sobrenaturais, experiências de adoecimento caracterizadas por sentimentos de dor e sofrimento, superação e enfrentamento como também o acionamento de estratégias terapêuticas de caráter empírico, popular e biomédico.Conclusão: os itinerários tecidos a partir de conexões com familiares, profissionais de saúde, membros da comunidade e a com a religiosidade, denotam que não existem padrões únicos e definidos nas trajetórias em busca de cuidado e que os mesmos podem permitir uma maior aproximação dos sentidos, modos de lidar com a doença e estratégias terapêuticas valorizadas e acionadas por estas mulheres.