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A study on cervical cancer indicates that the later the diagnosis of the disease is, the greater the costs for the Unified Health System (SUS). In addition to impacting patient survival, discovering cancer at advanced stages requires more hospitalizations and medical procedures.
The warning is from researchers from MSD Brasil, a global pharmaceutical company that produces the Nanavalent vaccine against the HPV available on the private network. HPV immunization is the main form of cervical cancer prevention and is also available for free in the Unified Health System through the quadrivalent vaccine. It protects against cancer -associated virus types and is suitable for teenagers from 9 to 14 years old.
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Information was gathered from 206,861 women over 18, diagnosed with the disease between January 2014 and December 2021. The study used Datasus, a public database linked to SUS.
In the data analyzed, the percentage of patients who needed chemotherapy increases according to the stage where cancer is identified, as well as the frequency of hospitalizations and outpatient visits per month. The study reinforces the size of the problem for the country, where advanced diagnosis occurs in 60% of cases, according to the researchers.
| Cancer stage at the time of diagnosis | Need for chemotherapy | Hospitalizations per month | Outpatient visits per month |
| 1 | 47,1% | 0,05 | 0,54 |
| 2 | 77% | 0,07 | 0,63 |
| 3 | 82,5% | 0,09 | 0,75 |
| 4 | 85% | 0,11 | 0,96 |
Another point raised is that of social and economic disparities related to the disease. Up to 80% of deaths occur in low and medium -income countries, such as Brazil.
According to the study by MSD Brazil, Most diagnoses of this type of cancer covers non -white women with low education, who depend on the public health system (SUS).
“As only a minority of cervical cancer cases has early diagnosis in Brazil, this study highlights the high economic burden to the public health sector, especially considering the delays in diagnosis. Therefore, it reinforces the urgent need to direct more efforts to prevent and trace, as we move towards the elimination goals of cervical cancer,” says one of the excerpts of the study.
Worsening in the pandemic
The survey highlights the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the treatment of cervical cancer on SUS. The proportion of patients who performed only surgery was 25.8% in 2020, while this percentage was 39.2% between 2014 and 2019.
In addition, there was a reduction of about 25% in radiotherapy procedures, with or without surgery or chemotherapy, in all stages. Already isolated chemotherapy increased by 22.6% on average for all stages.
The analysis is that there were gaps in treatment, which were caused by hospital collapse during the pandemic. And that this scenario may have a significant impact on patient health. The long -term consequences are still being determined.
Prevention
Researchers reinforce that about 99% of cervical cancer cases occur due to persistent HPV infections. Therefore, prevention should be done through vaccination against the virus; routine exams, for tracking infection and its injuries; and treatment of pre-castans injuries.
In the public network, the quadrivalent vaccine is available for boys and girls between 9 and 14 years. And for people from 9 to 45 years old, under these conditions: diagnosed with HIV/AIDS; in treatment of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy; transplanted from solid organs or bone marrow; Victims of sexual abuse; diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency or innate error of immunity; using pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV (PREP) between 15 and 45 years. Already in the private network, the Nanavalent vaccine is available for people between 9 and 45 years.
“The economic and social burden of cervical cancer in Brazil is significant. This study reiterates the urgent appeal by assertive public policies to mitigate the disparities, expanding anti-HPV immunization and tracking coverage. With early detection, demand for palliative care will decrease and allow resource allocation optimization to offer better cancer treatment,” says one of the excerpts, ”says one of the excerpts,” says one of the excerpts says one of the excerpts, ”says one of the excerpts,” says one of the excerpts, ”says one of the excerpts,” says one of the excerpts, ”says one of the excerpts”, says one of the excerpts, ”says one of the excerpts” of the study.
