LEUKEMIA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN BRAZIL: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF MORTALITY

Abstract

Leukemias, which mainly affect the hematopoietic system, are responsible for around a quarter of all cancer cases in the age group 0 to 19 years, it is the most common category among children and the main cause of cancer-related mortality. cancer in this age group. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze mortality from leukemia in children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years in Brazil between 2018 and 2022 with projections until 2025. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This epidemiological study is ecological, analytical and descriptive, focused on mortality from leukemia in children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years in Brazil between 2018 and 2022. The data were obtained from "Vital Statistics", specific to the "Mortality - since 1996 by ICD-10" session, made available by the Information Technology Department of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). The variables analyzed include year of death and age group, with emphasis on the ICD-BR-10 category: 050 leukemia. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Mortality rates fluctuated significantly between age groups over the years analyzed. Depending on the distribution in the studied period, the decreasing order of mortality can be established as: 0 to 4 years, 15 to 19 years, 5 to 9 years and 10 to 14 years. The prediction statistics until 2025 established a general tendency for a decrease, however, among children aged 0 to 4 years, the projections indicate an increase, as the mortality rate for the year 2025 was predicted to be 1.59 (95% CI: 1 .32; 1.86) per 100 thousand inhabitants. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: A general trend of decline in mortality rates was observed in all age groups analyzed, with the exception of children aged 0 to 4 years, where there are indications of an increase, which demonstrates the need to implement measures with the purpose reduce mortality from the disease.