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[Premature mortality from heart diseases in Brazil. A comparison with other countries]

P A Lotufo1

  • 1Hospital das Clínicas--FMUSP.

Insights

Brazilian cities experienced high heart disease premature death rates between 1984-87, particularly among women. These mortality patterns were comparable to or exceeded those in Europe and the United States.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Chronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality in Brazilian metropolitan areas.
  • Circulatory diseases represent the primary category of chronic diseases.
  • Premature mortality from heart disease is a significant public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare premature heart disease mortality rates in Brazil with international data.
  • To analyze trends in heart disease mortality between 1984 and 1987.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized official mortality statistics from eight major Brazilian metropolitan areas.
  • Analyzed deaths attributed to coronary heart disease and broader heart diseases (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, hypertension).
  • Population data derived from the 1980 and 1991 Brazilian National Censuses, with interpolation for interim years.

Main Results:

  • Brazilian men exhibited medium heart disease mortality rates, ranking among countries like Hungary and Finland.
  • Brazilian women displayed high heart disease mortality rates, ranking among the top globally, with cities like Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba showing notable rates.
  • Coronary heart disease mortality patterns mirrored those of overall heart diseases for both men and women.

Conclusions:

  • Brazilian cities demonstrated high age-adjusted mortality rates for heart diseases (ages 45-64) during 1984-87.
  • These rates were similar to or higher than those observed in Europe and the United States.
  • Women in Brazilian cities were particularly affected by high heart disease mortality.
Abstract

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