Mortality due to garbage codes in Brazilian municipalities: differences in rate estimates by the direct and Bayesian methods from 2015 to 2017

Evolution of mortality rates among women of reproductive age in Brazilian municipalities: an ecological analysis using Global Burden of Disease estimates

OBJECTIVES

Women's mortality at a reproductive age has been a global concern, and its decrease has been incorporated as a target of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of this study was to describe the spatial-temporal evolution of mortality rates among women of reproductive age in Brazilian municipalities by groups of causes and socioeconomic indicators from 2000 to 2018.

STUDY DESIGN

Ecological analysis.

METHODS

This work was an ecological, descriptive study that analyzed estimates of mortality rates among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) by main groups of causes of death from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in three consecutive trienniums, T1 (2000-2002), T2 (2009-2011), and T3 (2016-2018). To quantify the temporal evolution in mortality rates, the present study calculated the percentage change for each triennium. The spatial analysis of mortality rates was carried out using Moran's index. The Pearson coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the data.

RESULTS

A significant decline in mortality rates was found for all groups of causes in all regions of the country. Despite the downward trend, the percentage change from 2009 to 2011 to 2016 to 2018 showed a decrease in the group of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and external causes. The decline in mortality rates of women due to external causes showed only a minimal change in the North and Northeast regions from T2 to T3, whereas a cluster of neighboring municipalities with high mortality rates persisted in the municipalities of the South region and in the state of Roraima. The ranking of the main causes of death in Brazilian municipalities showed an increase in neoplasms in detriment to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

CONCLUSIONS

The main causes of death in women of reproductive age at a more local level could be used to recognize inequalities and to develop interventions aimed at tackling premature and preventable deaths.

Mortality by road transport injury in Brazilian municipalities between 2000 and 2018

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate patterns of mortality by road transport injury (RTI) in Brazilian municipalities, focused on deaths of motorcyclists, between 2000 and 2018, and their relation with population size and economic status.

STUDY DESIGN

This was an ecological epidemiological study with a descriptive and analytical nature.

METHODS

The age-standardized RTI mortality rates were calculated for the Brazilian municipalities, referring to the 3-year periods of 2000/2002 (T1), 2009/2011 (T2), and 2016/2018 (T3). The rates were stratified according to macroregion and population size and were compared in terms of percentage variation from one 3-year period to another. The Moran Global and Local indices were used in the spatial point-pattern analysis of the rates. To verify the association with the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, the Spearman correlation coefficient was applied.

RESULTS

A decline in RTI mortality rates was found between 2000 and 2018, with the most significant declines observed in municipalities from the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. However, increases were observed among motorcyclists. Clusters of municipalities were detected, which presented high mortality rates among the motorcyclists in the Northeast region and in some states of the North and Midwest regions. The mortality rates showed a negative correlation with the GDP per capita of the Brazilian municipalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there were decreases in RTI mortality rates between 1990 and 2018, there was a significant increase in deaths among motorcyclists, especially in the Northeast, North, and Midwest regions of the country. Such differences can be explained by unequal growth in the size of the motorcycle fleet in those regions, by less law enforcement capability, and by the implementation of educational actions.

Covid Adult Mortality in Brazil: An Analysis of Multiple Causes of Death

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the chain of events and contributing causes associated with COVID-19 adult mortality (30–69 years old), based on qualified data on CoD from three Brazilian capitals cities, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, and Natal, in 2020.

Methods

Data of all deaths among residents in the three capitals in 2020 were provided by these municipalities' routine Mortality Information System (SIM). Mentions B34.2 with the markers U07.1 and U07.2 in the death certificate identified COVID-19 deaths. We used a multiple-cause-of-death approach better to understand the complexity of the morbid process of COVID-19. Conditions that appeared more frequently in the same line or above the COVID-19 mentions in the death certificate were considered a chain-of-event. Conditions that occurred more often after the codes for COVID-19 were considered as contributing.

Results

In 2020, 7,029 records from COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death were registered in SIM in the three capitals. Among these, 2,921 (41.6%) were deceased between 30 and 69 years old, representing 17.0% of deaths in this age group. As chain-of-events, the most frequent conditions mentioned were sepsis (33.4%), SARS (32.0%), acute respiratory failure (31.9%), unspecified lower respiratory infections (unspecified pneumonia) (20.1%), and other specified respiratory disorders (14.1%). Hypertension (33.3%), diabetes unspecified type (21.7%), renal failure (12.7%), obesity (9.8%), other chronic kidney diseases (4.9%), and diabetes mellitus type 2 (4.7%) were the most frequent contributing conditions. On average, 3.04 conditions were mentioned in the death certificate besides COVID-19. This average varied according to age, place of death, and capital.

Conclusion

The multiple-cause analysis is a powerful tool to better understand the morbid process due to COVID-19 and highlight the importance of chronic non-communicable diseases as contributing conditions.