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.
