Trend of mortality rates for gastric cancer in Brazil and regions in the period of 30 years (1980-2009).

Context: The most recent global estimate revealed the presence of about one million new cases of stomach cancer for the year 2008, setting itself as the fourth most common cause of cancer.

Objective: The present study aims to assess the trend of mortality from stomach cancer in Brazil according to regions between 1980 and 2009.

Methods: Data on deaths from stomach cancer were obtained from the Mortality Information System, and the demographic data, from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The rates of mortality were standardized by age according to world population. The trend curves were calculated for Brazilian regions by sex. The technique used was polynomial regression and joinpoint.

Results: The tendency for males and females is similar in all regions, although the magnitude is higher among men in all places. Regions Midwest, South, Southeast tended to decline, while the Northern region showed no significant trend, and the Northeast tended to increase.

Conclusion: It is therefore a need to evaluate public health policies for gastric cancer aimed at the demographic transition (change of urbanization and lifestyle) that is occurring throughout the country.