HOSPITAL MORBIDITY AND COLORECTAL CANCER MORTALITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN BRAZIL.

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is a serious public health problem and one of the most common cancer worldwide. Countries around the world have shown different trends. While incidence and mortality rates for colorectal cancer are on an upward trend in developing countries, these rates have been on a downward trend in most developed countries.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the temporal trend of morbimortality by colorectal cancer in Brazil between 2002 and 2016.

METHODS

Descriptive, time series research. Data were extracted from the national information systems for hospitalizations and deaths of the respective years.

RESULTS

There were increasing trends in hospital morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer in all regions of the country, with the very elderly individuals dying at a higher rate. Women (52.1%) were more affected than men, but death rates were higher for males aged 60 years or more. Regional disparities were evident, with almost 80% of deaths occurring in the South and Southeast, with the largest annual increase in the South and the lowest in the North. Regarding hospitalization, South and Southeast presented higher annual growths.

CONCLUSION

These data add knowledge about the profile of public hospitalizations and deaths, reaffirming that colorectal cancer contributes to an important burden of disease and mortality in Brazil. These elements have implications for the review of colorectal cancer prevention and control strategies, as well as for public health investments.