Abstract 17: Comparative Analysis of Mortality from Malignant Skin Neoplasms in Brazilian Regions Over the Last Five Years: Risk Factors and Strategies for Public Health Policies

Abstract Purpose: According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, skin cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer both in Brazil and worldwide, being more common in individuals over 40 years of age and those with fair skin. This study aims to compare the prevalence of deaths from malignant skin neoplasms in Brazil between 2019 and 2023. It seeks to identify possible patterns and trends over the studied period to guide the development of improved public health policies for the targeted region and population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective, and quantitative epidemiological study on deaths from malignant skin neoplasms in Brazil between January 2019 and December 2023. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Unified Health System’s Informatics Department (DATASUS) and the 2002 Census from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for study development. Results: During the study period, 24,695 deaths from malignant skin neoplasms were recorded in Brazil, with approximately 40% attributed to melanoma. The Southern Region recorded the highest mortality rate in the country, at approximately 19.41 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Among its states, Rio Grande do Sul stood out with a rate of 22.23 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. In the Southern Region, men were 137.22% more affected than women, while individuals aged 60 to 79 accounted for 42.83% of deaths, followed by those over 80 years old (34.14%). Additionally, approximately 95% of deaths occurred among white individuals. Conclusion: Data analysis indicates a higher mortality rate from malignant skin neoplasms in Brazil’s Southern Region, potentially linked to the region’s sociodemographic characteristics, which predominantly include white individuals—who are more vulnerable to skin cancer. The higher prevalence of deaths among men and individuals over 60 years of age may be associated with risk behaviors characteristic of this demographic, such as prolonged sun exposure due to outdoor occupational activities and long-term neglect of protective measures, such as sunscreen use. Therefore, it is crucial to develop and implement public health policies focused on prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, specifically targeting the region and the population at risk for skin cancer. Citation Format: Yasmin Marques Loureiro, Isabela Karina Vilas Boas, Yamin de França, Lucas Conzatti Rodrigues, Gabriela Gerevini Dal Alba, Roberta Rahal de Albuquerque. Comparative Analysis of Mortality from Malignant Skin Neoplasms in Brazilian Regions Over the Last Five Years: Risk Factors and Strategies for Public Health Policies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 17.