[Geographical distribution of mortality caused by stomach, trachea, bronchi and lung malignant tumors in Chile].
BACKGROUND
Maps have played a critical role in public health since 1855, when John Snow associated a cholera outbreak with contaminated water source in London. After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second leading cause of death in Chile. Cancer was responsible for 22.7% of all deaths in 1997-2004 period.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the geographical distribution of stomach, trachea, bronchi and lung cancer mortality.


METHODS
Mortality statistics for the years 1997-2004, published by the National Statistics Institute and Chilean Ministry of Health, were used. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for sex and age quinquennium was calculated for 341 counties in the country. A hierarchical Bayesian analysis of Poisson regression models for SMR was performed. The maps were developed using adjusted SMR (or smoothed) by the Poisson model.


RESULTS
There is an excess mortality caused by stomach cancer in south central Chile, from Teno to Valdivia. There is an excess mortality caused by trachea, bronchi and lung cancer in northern Chile, from Copiapó to Iquique.


CONCLUSIONS
The geographical analysis of mortality caused by cancer shows cluster of counties with an excess risk. These areas should be considered for health care decision making and resource allocation.
Icaza N
M Gloria
MG
Instituto de Matemática y Física, Universidad de Talca, Chile. gicaza@utalca.cl
Núñez F
M Loreto
ML
Torres A
Francisco J
FJ
Díaz S
Nora L
NL
Várela G
David E
DE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality