Sociodemographic aspects and spatial distribution of pancreatic cancer mortality in the state of Alagoas, 2015-2024

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic aspects and spatial distribution of pancreatic cancer mortality in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, from 2015 to 2024. This is an ecological and descriptive study using data from the Mortality Information System and population estimates from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System. Deaths of residents aged 20 years or older whose underlying cause was malignant neoplasm of the pancreas were included. Annual mortality rates and municipal rates for the period were calculated, and the latter were presented in a thematic map. A total of 1,006 deaths were recorded. The annual number rose from 70 in 2015 to 128 in 2024, and the rate rose from 3.4 to 5.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, with the highest value in 2023 (6.3). The rate for the period was 4.7 per 100,000 inhabitants. Females (52.4%), people aged 60 to 79 years (55.6%), brown race/skin color (55.9%) and deaths in hospital (74.8%) predominated, and schooling was unknown in 41.7% of records. The 1st Health Region accounted for 52.6% of deaths and had the highest rate (6.0 per 100,000), and municipal rates ranged from 0.0 to 10.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Pancreatic cancer mortality increased in Alagoas during the period, with higher occurrence among older people and an unequal distribution across municipalities, which reinforces the need for continuous surveillance and for the organization of cancer care in the state.