Cardiovascular and Cancer Death Rates in the Brazilian Population Aged 35 to 74 Years, 1996-2017

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer are leading global causes of death, sharing common risk factors.
• Effective control of traditional CVD risk factors has been linked to reduced cancer incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze mortality rate trends for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer in the Brazilian population aged 35-74 years.
• To examine trends from 1996 to 2017 to understand the changing landscape of major causes of death.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of crude and age-adjusted death rate trends for all causes, CVD, and cancer using data from Brazil's Ministry of Health mortality database.
• Joinpoint Regression Program was employed to analyze trends and calculate Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC), with statistical significance set at p <0.05.

Main Results:

• Mortality from all causes, CVD, ischemic heart disease, and stroke significantly declined between 1996 and 2017 (AAPC ranging from -1.6% to -3.7%).
• Cancer mortality rates remained stable overall (AAPC=-0.1%), but cancer deaths surpassed the combined deaths from ischemic heart disease and stroke in 2002.
• Projected trends indicate cancer mortality will exceed CVD mortality by 2024, with increasing rates for breast, lung, and colon cancer in women, and stable prostate cancer mortality in men.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in Brazil currently.
• However, cancer mortality rates are projected to surpass cardiovascular disease mortality within the next few years, necessitating a shift in public health focus.