Factors Associated with Oral Cancer Mortality Rates in the State of Alagoas: Decade-Long Analysis
Introduction: Oral cancer presents high mortality rates in Brazil, showing increasing rates in the states of the Northeast. Objective: To analyze the factors associated with mortality from oral cancer in the municipalities of Alagoas from 2013 to 2023. Method: Ecological study conducted using data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and IBGE on deaths from mouth cancer classified according to CID-10 codes C00-C09, by residence, in medium and large-sized municipalities of Alagoas. Socioeconomic and health service access indicators were obtained from the 2010 and 2022 censuses, E-Gestor Primary Care, and the Oncology Panel. The data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel and analyzed in STATA SE 11.2 using a multivariate Poisson regression model with random effects. Results: A total of 366 deaths were reported in medium and large-sized municipalities in the state of Alagoas between 2013 and 2023. Mortality rates ranged from 0 to 0.83 deaths per 10,000 inhabitants across different municipalities. Despite variations in mortality rates and the analyzed indicators, no statistically significant association was identified between oral cancer mortality and socioeconomic or healthcare access indicators. Conclusion: Although no variable showed statistical significance, the study demonstrated the persistent occurrence of oral cancer mortality throughout the analyzed decade, as well as low socioeconomic and healthcare access indicators in medium- and large-sized municipalities in the state of Alagoas.