The Esophageal cancer: Analysis of the mortality rate during the period 2017-2021 in Chile.

Abstract

Introduction: Esophageal cancer is aggressive, often diagnosed in advanced stages, with high mortality rates (4-40%) and an 18% 5-year survival rate after diagnosis. The objective is to descriptively compare the mortality rate for esophageal cancer during 2017-2021 in Chile. Materials and methods: Descriptive, observational study, included 3007 people over 20 years of age who died from esophageal cancer during 2017-2021, according to data from the Department of Health Statistics and Information of Chile. The mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants was calculated according to year, sex, age group and region. No ethics committee required. Results: The TM of the period was 4.69. In 2018 it had the highest TM with 4.80, and in 2021 the lowest with 4.25. The male sex presented a higher TM with 6.17. The range 80 and over had the highest TM for men and women being 370.9 and 183.6, while the range 20-44 years the lowest with 0.52 and 0.12 respectively. The Magallanes region had the highest MT with 41.43. Discussion: The decrease in MT in 2021 can be explained by less research and more deaths from complications related to COVID19 during the pandemic. The higher TM in men may be due to greater alcoholism and smoking, considered risk factors for the pathology. The highest TM in 80 and over years agrees with international data, while the lowest TM between 20–44 years may be due to estrogen, which acts as a protective factor. Magallanes has a diet based on cereals and products of animal origin, considering risk factors. In conclusion, due to its high incidence and mortality, esophageal cancer turns out to be a public health problem.