RACIONAL: Gastric cancer incidence and mortality have been declining in many countries, including Brazil. Nevertheless, it still constitutes an important public health problem in our country, particularly in the state of Pará where mortality rates present values over the Brazilian average rates. AIM: To analyze the patterns of gastric cancer mortality in Pará State and in the City of Belém, in the last two decades. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mortality data were obtained through Brazil's Mortality Information System and population data came from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Age standardized mortality rates were calculated for the whole population and by sex, for every triennium in the period 1980-97 for Pará State and City of Belém. Trends of the standardized mortality rates from stomach cancer were analyzed through linear regression models. RESULTS: In comparison with other state Capitals and countries, standardized mortality rates for stomach cancer in Belém were elevated (27.2 a 15.8/100,000) during all the study period. Rates in men were higher than for women with a sex ratio of 3.0 in Belém, in all study periods, except 1995-97. During the study period, it was observed a decreasing trend in the mortality rates for both sexes, although more prominent in men, in the State of Pará. In Belém, it was also seen a decline in rates for all age groups. CONCLUSION: In spite of the observed trend, gastric cancer mortality rates in Belém at the last period of the series (1995-97) were still higher than those exhibited by some of the other State Capitals in 1980-82.
Stomach neoplasms; Mortality; Food consumption
