An international study involving LMU found regional differences in childhood lymphocytic leukemia mortality across Brazil.
Why do mortality rates for children with lymphocytic leukemia vary markedly depending on where they live in Brazil? A collaboration between researchers from LMU and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) analyzed trends in childhood lymphocytic leukemia mortality rates in Brazil over 20 years, and also analyzed the links between observed disparities and regional development and health care structures. The survey results are Lancet Community Health – Americas.
The study shows that mortality rates have increased particularly in the socio-economically disadvantaged north and northeast of Brazil, while mortality rates have remained stable or declined in wealthier regions. Improving primary health care alone has not been enough to reduce these disparities. Instead, researchers emphasize the need for targeted, region-specific strategies that strengthen specialized pediatric oncology services and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment to address regional disparities in childhood cancer outcomes.
Our findings show that health inequalities extend far beyond just access to health care. Reducing childhood leukemia mortality requires addressing the underlying social and structural inequalities that continue to impact vulnerable populations. ”
Barbara Sarni Sánchez, doctoral candidate and first author
“The strength of our study is that we combined longitudinal leukemia mortality data with complex socio-economic and medical information. Using biostatistical methods, we combined these data into two meaningful indicators and used them to model mortality rates and investigate associations with regional differences in mortality trends,” said Ursula Berger, Ph.D., from LMU’s Institute of Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE).
According to Professor Marcelo Geraldine Poirot-Rando of the UFRJ School of Medicine, the findings provide important evidence to support public policy planning aimed at reducing health inequalities. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of international scientific collaboration and research networks in addressing complex public health challenges. The partnership between UFRJ and LMU brings together epidemiology, biostatistics, and public health expertise to enable the application of innovative methodologies to investigate the determinants of childhood leukemia mortality in Brazil.
sauce:
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
Reference magazines:
Sanchez, B.S. others. (2026). Spatiotemporal analysis and socio-economic determinants of childhood lymphocytic leukemia mortality in Brazil from 2000 to 2021: an ecological study. Lancet Community Health – Americas. DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2026.101557. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X(26)00187-0/fulltext
