Asthma-related deaths in Brazil: data from an ecological study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Asthma remains a significant public health concern globally, necessitating continuous monitoring of epidemiological trends.
• Understanding hospitalization and mortality patterns is crucial for effective disease management and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze epidemiological data on asthma-related hospitalizations and deaths in Brazil over an 11-year period (2013-2023).
• To identify trends, demographic factors, and correlations associated with asthma morbidity and mortality.

Main Methods:

• An ecological study design was employed.
• Data on asthma hospitalizations and deaths were extracted from the Brazilian Unified Health System's Department of Informatics and the Mortality Information System.
• The study period spanned from 2013 to 2023.

Main Results:

• Asthma-related deaths exhibited an increasing trend from 2013 to 2023, with a notable surge in 2022.
• While female asthma mortality rates remained stable, male rates increased. Individuals over 60 years old constituted approximately 65% of all asthma-related deaths.
• A strong positive correlation was observed between age and the number of deaths, irrespective of sex.
• Conversely, asthma-related hospitalizations showed a declining trend, decreasing from 134,322 in 2013 to 87,707 in 2023.

Conclusions:

• Asthma-related mortality in Brazil has increased over the past decade, disproportionately affecting older individuals and males.
• The findings underscore a divergence between increasing mortality and decreasing hospitalization rates, warranting further investigation into care quality and disease management strategies.