Abstract Purpose: To analyze the prevalence of esophageal malignant neoplasms in Southern Brazil over the past decade in order to identify the epidemiological profile of patients, compare prevalence rates across the regions of the country, and understand possible socio-environmental factors associated with the higher mortality rate per capita in Southern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive, and quantitative study on mortality due to malignant esophageal neoplasms in Brazil from January 2014 to December 2023. Data were obtained from the Department of Information and Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) and the 2022 Census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for the study’s development. Results: Between 2014 and 2023, a total of 84, 556 deaths caused by esophageal malignant neoplasms were recorded in Brazil, with 19, 419 (22. 96%) occurring in Southern Brazil. This corresponds to 64. 86 deaths per 100, 000 inhabitants, making it the region with the highest mortality rate. Within this region, the state of Rio Grande do Sul had the highest number of deaths, approximately 9, 355, corresponding to 85. 96 deaths per 100, 000 inhabitants, the highest mortality rate in the country. In this state, men were about 280% more affected than women, and approximately 98% of the deaths occurred in individuals over 45 years of age. Conclusion: The data analysis allows us to conclude that the Southern Region is the most vulnerable to malignant esophageal neoplasms, with particular emphasis on the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The epidemiological profile of the most susceptible group in this state, composed of men over 45 years old, is directly associated with greater exposure to risk factors related to lifestyle and cultural habits of the region. Among the main hypotheses, the excessive consumption of chimarrão, a traditional beverage in Rio Grande do Sul predominantly consumed by men, often at high temperatures, stands out. Over time, this practice—when combined with other risk factors such as smoking and alcoholism, which are common in the Southern Region—may predispose individuals to the development of esophageal cancer. Thus, the higher prevalence of deaths from this pathology can be associated with socio-environmental factors, highlighting the need to propose public health policies focused on prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment. Citation Format: Yasmin Marques Loureiro, Mariana Schlindwein Afonso, Júlia Larsen Dorcínio, Jéssica Meazza Bohnenberger, Ana Lúcia Soares Rosson, Luiza Nodari Candanedo, Rafaela Coelho Pires, Gabriela Gerevini Dal Alba. Epidemiological Analysis of Esophageal Neoplasm Mortality in Southern Brazil in the Last Decade: Hypotheses on Risk Factors and Insights for Public Health Policy Development abstract. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34 (12Suppl): Abstract nr 16.
Pires et al. (Mon,) studied this question.