[Inequalities in mortality from cardiovascular diseases in small municipalities]

The scope of this ecological study was to identify mortality from cardiovascular disease in the municipalities of the 16th Health Region of Rio Grande do Sul between 2003 and 2007. It looked at differences among them, sex and age distribution and related the mean coefficient of mortality during the period to socioeconomic variables of investment, healthcare coverage and access, seeking to identify a few factors that might be significant to explain these differences. Correlation and multiple regression were analyzed. The results indicated that in counties with up to 5000 inhabitants the Family Health Strategy coverage may be a better protective factor than in larger municipalities, and per capita income has less influence on mortality. A direct relationship was found between hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease and mortality, especially in the larger municipalities. Multiple regression showed health costs per inhabitant/year as the factor most closely related to increased mortality. It was concluded that the variables selected explain partially the differences in mortality caused by cardiovascular disease in a similar group of municipalities of a regional health area in southern Brazil.