Epidemiological study on the lip and oral cavity cancer in Brazil: connecting science and clinical applicability

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe and discuss the epidemiological indicators of lip and oral cavity cancer in Brazil, in 2017, according to data from the Global Burden of Disease data. METHODS: This is a descriptive study reported according to STROBE guidelines. We identified epidemiological indicators using the Global Burden of Disease results tool. Mortality/incidence rates were described per 100,000 population. Global Burden of Disease 2017 reviews were completed using Python version 2.7, Stata version 13.1, and R version 3.3. RESULTS: In 2017, there were 5,237 deaths from the lip or oral cavity cancer in Brazil, most of them were males aged between 50 and 69 years (2,730 cases, which was equivalent to 52% of the universe of deaths resulting from this cause). Regarding the burden of lip and oral cavity cancer, per 100,000 Brazilians, we observed an incidence of 3.99, prevalence of 15.46, and mortality of 2.29 (with higher indicators in the South and Southeast regions of the country). CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological indicators of lip and oral cavity cancer were higher in men, with higher mortality indicators in individuals aged 50–69 years, and higher rates (incidence, prevalence, and mortality) in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. From 2002–2015, there was a reduction in mortality; however, in the period from 2015–2017, there was a resumption in the growth of this indicator.