LAUSR

OBJECTIVE to analyze the temporal trend of leukemia mortality in children and adolescents under 20 years old, in Brazilian state capitals and Federal District, between 1980 and 2015. METHODS this was a descriptive time series study; age-standardized leukemia mortality rates were calculated; the Prais-Winsten regression model was used. RESULTS leukemia mortality rates fell from 2.73 to 1.58 per 100,000 inhabitants aged under 20 years in the period studied (annual percentage variation of -7.06%: 95%CI -8.61;5.49), with differences between capitals; there was a reduction in magnitude in all age groups - 0-4 years (9.17%: 95%CI -11.58;-6.69), 5-9 years (-9,27%: 95%CI -11.90;-6.56), 10-14 years (-4.86%: 95%CI -6.69;-3.00) and 15-19 years (-3.77%: 95%CI -5.22;-2.31). CONCLUSION there was a falling trend in pediatric leukemia mortality rates, although it was unequal between the capitals, indicating the need for measures to minimize regional differences.