Hospitalizations for Upper Aerodigestive Tract and Esophageal Cancer in Brazil Between 2016 and 2025: A Focus on the Southern Region
Pedro Melo, Rafael Amengual Duarte, Rafael Dutra Seadi, Manoela Ziulkoski ApratoPURPOSE
To describe temporal trends in hospitalizations for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract and esophagus in Brazil between 2016 and 2025 and to compare the national burden with that of the Southern region.
METHODS
A descriptive, nationwide, hospital-based study was conducted using data from the Brazilian Unified Health System. Hospital admissions with primary diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, and esophagus recorded from 2016 to 2025 were extracted from the national hospital information system. Variables included year of processing and state of residence. Absolute numbers of hospitalizations were calculated for Brazil and for each state. Temporal patterns in total admissions were examined, and the proportion of hospitalizations arising from the Southern states (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) was compared with their share of the Brazilian population according to 2022 census data.
RESULTS
Over the study period, 435,434 hospitalizations for these cancers were recorded in Brazil. Annual admissions ranged from just over 40,000 to nearly 46,000, with a decline in 2020-2021 and subsequent recovery. The Southern states accounted for 103,908 hospitalizations, corresponding to 23.9% of all admissions, despite comprising only about 14.7% of the national population. Rio Grande do Sul contributed 38,521 admissions, Paraná 38,849, and Santa Catarina 26,538. This disproportionate contribution indicates a substantially higher hospitalization burden for upper aerodigestive tract and esophageal cancers in Southern Brazil than in the country overall.
CONCLUSION
Hospitalizations for cancers of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus remain frequent in Brazil and are markedly concentrated in the Southern region. The finding that <15% of the population accounts for nearly one quarter of admissions reveals a pronounced regional imbalance, likely related to differences in exposure to alcohol, tobacco, dietary habits, and other contextual risk factors. Targeted prevention, early detection, and strengthened oncologic care in Southern Brazil are essential to reduce this excess burden and narrow regional disparities.