Mortality rate for mesothelioma as a basic cause in the period 2017-2022 in Chile

Our plain-English summary of Mortality rate for mesothelioma as a basic cause in the period 2017-2022 in Chile, by F. Quintanilla, Á. Torres, M. Villar, et al (Ecancermedicalscience, 2025).

The study

• Authors: F. Quintanilla, Á. Torres, M. Villar, C. Muñoz, J. Lizama, B. Mena
• Journal: Ecancermedicalscience
• Published: 2025;19:1927
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Introduction: Mesothelioma is a neoplasm associated with asbestos exposure. Due to the lack of updated national epidemiological data, it was decided to determine the mortality rate (MT) due to mesothelioma during the period 2017-2022 in Chile.

Materials And Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. A descriptive analysis of mortality rate (TM) due to mesothelioma as a basic cause during the period 2017-2022 in Chile in patients aged 45 years and older was performed, analysing the variables sex, age, national region, anatomical site affected and place of death. Data were obtained from the Department of Health Statistics and Information and the National Institute of Statistics and were analysed using Microsoft Office Excel. No evaluation by an ethics committee was required.

Results: We studied 362 deaths, determining a TM for the period of 0.97 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, where the highest rate was recorded in 2019. There was a predominance in men, with a male excess MT of 2.19, as well as in those over 80 years of age and residents in the region of Arica and Parinacota. In most cases, the tumour location was not determined, but among those identified, the most frequent was of pleural origin. Most deaths occurred at home.

Discussion: The findings show that the highest MTs are concentrated in men, the elderly and mining regions, groups in which exposure to asbestos is quite probable, both for occupational and residential reasons.

Conclusion: The need to maintain active surveillance and high suspicion for mesothelioma is emphasised, with the application of public health measures for early diagnosis and adequate management.

© the authors; licensee ecancermedicalscience.

In plain English

This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study looked at deaths in Chile from 2017 to 2022 among people aged 45 and older whose basic cause of death was recorded as mesothelioma. The data came from two public national sources, the Department of Health Statistics and Information (DEIS) and the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The authors counted 362 deaths, a mortality rate of 0.97 deaths per 100,000 for the whole period. The yearly rate was lowest in 2018 (0.72) and highest in 2019 (1.22). The rate was 1.36 per 100,000 in men and 0.63 in women, and the authors reported the male excess as 2.19. The rate was highest at age 80 and older (2.51) and lowest at ages 45 to 64 (0.44). Arica and Parinacota had the highest regional rate (2.46). The tumour site was unspecified in 57.2% of deaths (207), and pleural in 31.5% (114). Most deaths, 62.14% (225), occurred at home. The study had no data on patients' asbestos exposure or jobs. The authors concluded that, because of the association with certain work activities, doctors should take a detailed history and keep a high level of suspicion.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study of national death records
• Who was studied: 362 deaths in Chile, 2017 to 2022, with mesothelioma as the basic cause, in people aged 45 years and older. Data came from the Chilean Department of Health Statistics and Information (DEIS) and the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
• Exposure: Not measured. The study used death records only and had no data on individual asbestos exposure, occupations, or fiber types.
• Main results:
  • Mortality rate for the whole 2017 to 2022 period, in people aged 45 and older: 0.97 deaths per 100,000
  • Highest yearly rate: 1.22 deaths per 100,000 in 2019
  • Lowest yearly rate: 0.72 deaths per 100,000 in 2018
  • Rate by sex over the period: 1.36 per 100,000 in men and 0.63 in women; the authors reported a male excess of 2.19
  • Age group 80 and older had the highest rate in every year studied: 2.51 deaths per 100,000 for the period
  • Age group 45 to 64 had the lowest rate: 0.44 deaths per 100,000 for the period
  • Highest regional rate: Arica and Parinacota, 2.46 deaths per 100,000. Antofagasta (1.94) and Magallanes (1.65) followed. No deaths were recorded in Tarapacá or Aysén.
  • The Metropolitan region accounted for 53.87% of all deaths (n = 195)
  • Tumour site was unspecified in 57.2% of deaths (n = 207)
  • Pleural mesothelioma accounted for 31.5% of deaths (n = 114)
  • 62.14% of deaths (n = 225) occurred at home
  • 37.29% of deaths (n = 135) occurred in clinics or hospitals
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that, because of mesothelioma's high association with certain work activities, doctors should take a detailed clinical history and keep a high level of suspicion. They also called for a more even distribution of medical specialists across regions to achieve timely care and diagnosis.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • No data on patients' occupational exposures, which limited analysis of possible causes
  • The data sources gave population death counts only, with no individual clinical information on treatments or outcomes
  • Little information on the subject is available nationally or globally, which makes comparison difficult

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Mesothelioma, Neoplasm, Asbestos Exposure, Active Surveillance.

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