Mortality and Years of Potential Life Lost Due to COVID-19 in Brazil

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Demography

Background:

• Brazil faced a high burden of COVID-19 cases and deaths by November 2020.
• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presented significant challenges to public health infrastructure and societal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe COVID-19 deaths, mortality rates, years of potential life lost (YPLL), and excess mortality in Brazil.
• To analyze the social impact of COVID-19 mortality across different demographic groups and risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive study utilizing SARS-CoV-2 records from SIVEP-Gripe (Ministry of Health of Brazil).
• Data analysis covered the period from February 16, 2020, to January 1, 2021.
• Calculated deaths, mortality rate, YPLL, and excess mortality.

Main Results:

• 98,025 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in Brazil during the study period.
• Men constituted 60.5% of the estimated 1.2 million YPLL, indicating premature deaths.
• Individuals aged 45-64 years accounted for over 50% of total YPLL; 69.5% of deaths had risk factors, notably heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19's social impact, measured by YPLL, varied significantly by gender, race, and presence of risk factors.
• Indigenous populations, particularly pregnant women and mothers, experienced high average YPLL.
• YPLL and excess mortality data are vital for prioritizing public health interventions, including vaccination and resource allocation for vulnerable groups.