Validation of physician certified verbal autopsy using conventional autopsy: a large study of adult non-external causes of death in a metropolitan area in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Reliable mortality data are essential for the development of public health policies. In Brazil, although there is a well-consolidated universal system for mortality data, the quality of information on causes of death (CoD) is not even among Brazilian regions, with a high proportion of ill-defined CoD. Verbal autopsy (VA) is an alternative to improve mortality data. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of an adapted and reduced version of VA in identifying the underlying causes of non-forensic deaths, in São Paulo, Brazil. This is the first time that a version of the questionnaire has been validated considering the autopsy as the gold standard. METHODS: The performance of a physician-certified verbal autopsy (PCVA) was evaluated considering conventional autopsy (macroscopy plus microscopy) as gold standard, based on a sample of 2060 decedents that were sent to the Post-Mortem Verification Service (SVOC-USP). All CoD, from the underlying to the immediate, were listed by both parties, and ICD-10 attributed by a senior coder. For each cause, sensitivity and chance corrected concordance (CCC) were computed considering first the underlying causes attributed by the pathologist and PCVA, and then any CoD listed in the death certificate given by PCVA. Cause specific mortality fraction accuracy (CSMF-accuracy) and chance corrected CSMF-accuracy were computed to evaluate the PCVA performance at the populational level. RESULTS: There was substantial variability of the sensitivities and CCC across the causes. Well-known chronic diseases with accurate diagnoses that had been informed by physicians to family members, such as various cancers, had sensitivities above 40% or 50%. However, PCVA was not effective in attributing Pneumonia, Cardiomyopathy and Leukemia/Lymphoma as underlying CoD. At populational level, the PCVA estimated cause specific mortality fractions (CSMF) may be considered close to the fractions pointed by the gold standard. The CSMF-accuracy was 0.81 and the chance corrected CSMF-accuracy was 0.49. CONCLUSIONS: The PCVA was efficient in attributing some causes individually and proved effective in estimating the CSMF, which indicates that the method is useful to establish public health priorities.

Inequalities in the burden of female breast cancer in Brazil, 1990-2017.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. In recent decades, breast cancer death rates have been stable or decreasing in more developed regions; however, this has not been observed in less developed regions. This study aims to evaluate inequalities in the burden of female breast cancer in Brazil including an analysis of interregional and interstate patterns in incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates from 1990 to 2017, and mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR), and their association with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI). METHODS: Using estimates from the global burden of disease (GBD) study, we applied a spatial exploratory analysis technique to obtain measurements of global and local spatial correlation. Percentage changes of breast cancer incidence, mortality, and DALYs rates between 1990 and 2017 were calculated, and maps were developed to show the spatial distribution of the variables. Spatial panel models were adjusted to investigate the association between rates and SDI in Brazilian states. RESULTS: In Brazil, while breast cancer mortality rate have had modest reduction (-4.45%; 95% UI: -6.97; -1.76) between 1990 and 2017, the incidence rate increased substantially (+39.99%; 95% UI: 34.90; 45.39). Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in 1990 and 2017 were higher in regions with higher SDI, i.e., the most developed ones. While SDI increased in all Brazilian states between 1990 and 2017, notably in less developed regions, MIR decreased, more notably in more developed regions. The SDI had a positive association with incidence rate and a negative association with MIR. CONCLUSION: Such findings suggest an improvement in breast cancer survival in the period, which may be related to a broader access to diagnostic methods and treatment. This study also revealed the inequality in breast cancer outcomes among Brazilian states and may guide public policy priorities for disease control in the country.

Association between firearms and mortality in Brazil, 1990 to 2017: a global burden of disease Brazil study.

BACKGROUND: Brazil leads the world in number of firearm deaths and ranks sixth by country in rate of firearm deaths per 100,000 people. This study aims to analyze trends in and burden of mortality by firearms, according to age and sex, for Brazil, and the association between these deaths and indicators of possession and carrying of weapons using data from the global burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors study (GBD) 2017. METHODS: We used GBD 2017 estimates of mortality due to physical violence and self-harm from firearms for Brazil to analyze the association between deaths by firearms and explanatory variables. RESULTS: Deaths from firearms increased in Brazil from 25,819 in 1990 to 48,493 in 2017. Firearm mortality rates were higher among men and in the 20-24 age group; the rate was 20 times higher than for women in the same age group. Homicide rates increased during the study period, while mortality rates for suicides and accidental deaths decreased. The group of Brazilian federation units with the highest firearm collection rate (median = 7.5) showed reductions in the rate of total violent deaths by firearms. In contrast, the group with the lowest firearm collection rate (median = 2.0) showed an increase in firearm deaths from 2000 to 2017. An increase in the rate of voluntary return of firearms was associated with a reduction in mortality rates of unintentional firearm deaths (r = -0.364, p < 0.001). An increase in socio-demographic index (SDI) was associated with a reduction in all firearm death rates (r = -0.266, p = 0.008). An increase in the composite index of firearms seized or collected was associated with a reduction in rates of deaths by firearm in the subgroup of females, children, and the elderly (r = -0.269, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: There was a change in the trend of firearms deaths after the beginning of the collection of weapons in 2004. Federation units that collected more guns have reduced rates of violent firearm deaths.

Screening Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations From Pernambuco, Brazil for Resistance to Temephos, Diflubenzuron, and Cypermethrin and Characterization of Potential Resistance Mechanisms.

Resistance to chemical insecticides detected in Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes has been a problem for the National Dengue Control Program (PNCD) over the last years. In order to provide deeper knowledge of resistance to xenobiotics, our study evaluated the susceptibility profile of temephos, diflubenzuron, and cypermethrin insecticides in natural mosquito populations from the Pernambuco State, associating these results with the local historical use of such compounds. Furthermore, mechanisms that may be associated with this particular type of resistance were characterized. Bioassays with multiple temephos and diflubenzuron concentrations were performed to detect and quantify resistance. For cypermethrin, diagnostic dose assays were performed. Biochemical tests were carried out to quantify the activity of detoxification enzymes. In addition, a screening of mutations present in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (NaV) was performed in samples previously submitted to bioassays with cypermethrin. The populations under study were resistant to temephos and showed a positive correlation between insecticide consumption and the resistance ratio (RR) to the compound. For diflubenzuron, the biological activity ratio (BAR) ranged from 1.3 to 4.7 times, when compared to the susceptible strain. All populations showed resistance to cypermethrin. Altered enzymatic profiles of alpha, p-nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA) esterases and glutathione-S-transferases were recorded in most of these samples. Molecular analysis demonstrated that Arcoverde was the only population that presented the mutated form 1016Ile/Ile. These findings show that the situation is critical vis-à-vis the effectiveness of mosquito control using chemical insecticides, since resistance to temephos and cypermethrin is widespread in Ae. aegypti from Pernambuco.

Social inequalities in the prevalence of self-reported chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazil: national health survey 2013.

BACKGROUND: Considering the high socioeconomic inequalities in Brazil related to occurrence of morbidity and premature mortality, the objective of this study was to analyze inequalities in self-reported prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and in the physical limitations caused by these diseases, among the Brazilian adult population, according to sociodemographic variables. METHODS: This was a population-based cross-sectional study that analyzed information on 60,202 individuals who formed a representative sample of Brazilian adults interviewed for the National Health Survey 2013. Disparities by schooling levels and possession of private health insurance were assessed by calculating the prevalence (P) and prevalence ratio (PR) of each of the 13 NCDs and any associated limitations, while controlling for other socioeconomic and demographic variables. RESULTS: 45 % of the Brazilian adult population reported having at least one NCD. The prevalence ratio was greater among women (1.24 CI 1.21-1.28), individuals over 55 years of age, individuals with low schooling levels (illiterate and incomplete elementary education) (1.08 CI 1.02-1.14) and people living in the Southeast (1.10 CI 1.04-1.16), South (1.26 CI 1.19-1.34) and Central-West (1.11 CI 1.05-1.18) regions of the country. Diseases such as diabetes (1.42 CI 1.13-1.47), hypertension (1.17 CI 1.06-1.28), stroke (2.52 CI 1.74-3.66), arthritis (1.4 CI 1.11-1.77), spinal problems (1.39 CI .1.25-1.56), and chronic renal failure (1.65 CI 1.10.2.46), were more prevalent among adults with low education. For most NCDs, greater reports of limitations were associated with lower schooling levels and lack of private health insurance. CONCLUSION: Populations with lower schooling levels and lack of private health insurance present higher prevalence of various NCD and greater degrees of limitation due to these diseases. Results reveal the extent of social inequalities that persist with regard to occurrence and the impact of NCDs in Brazil.

Trends in mortality from respiratory disease in Latin America since 1998 and the impact of the 2009 influenza pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To determine trends in mortality from respiratory disease in several areas of Latin America between 1998 and 2009. METHODS: The numbers of deaths attributed to respiratory disease between 1998 and 2009 were extracted from mortality data from Argentina, southern Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Paraguay. Robust linear models were then fitted to the rates of mortality from respiratory disease recorded between 2003 and 2009. FINDINGS: Between 1998 and 2008, rates of mortality from respiratory disease gradually decreased in all age groups in most of the study areas. Among children younger than 5 years, for example, the annual rates of such mortality - across all seven study areas - fell from 56.9 deaths per 100,000 in 1998 to 26.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2008. Over this period, rates of mortality from respiratory disease were generally highest among adults older than 65 years and lowest among individuals aged 5 to 49 years. In 2009, mortality from respiratory disease was either similar to that recorded in 2008 or showed an increase - significant increases were seen among children younger than 5 years in Paraguay, among those aged 5 to 49 years in southern Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay and among adults aged 50 to 64 years in Mexico and Paraguay. CONCLUSION: In much of Latin America, mortality from respiratory disease gradually fell between 1998 and 2008. However, this downward trend came to a halt in 2009, probably as a result of the (H1N1) 2009 pandemic.

Patterns of abuse of elderly people in Brazil: analysis of notifications.

This study aimed to describe the characteristics of elderly people abuse notifications by gender and to assess notification patterns according to gender. We analyzed data from the Brazilian Information System for Notificable Diseases (SINAN) in 2017. We carried out a descriptive analysis of victim characteristics, violence, and the probable perpetrator according to gender. Pearson's χ2 test was used to assess the significance between groups. Then, we verified the main relationships between the studied characteristics and the victim's gender by simple correspondence analysis (SCA). Thus, 17,311 cases/suspicions of elderly people abuse were notified, corresponding to 7.2% of the total number of violence notifications. Of these victims, 50.4% were white, 42.3% were married, and 17.2% had a disability/disorder; 76.9% occurred at home, 62.8% included physical violence, and 49.5% were cases of repeated violence. Most perpetrators were men (62%), and violence by two or more perpetrators was observed in 62.8% of the cases. SCA evidenced inequalities in older adults' gender, which proved to be higher among women. Physical violence was the most common among younger and old individuals, whereas neglect/abandonment tended to occur more frequently among the oldest individuals, and was most often committed by daughters. In sum, this study demonstrated evidence of gender-based violence, especially among older adults. Disability proved to be an essential characteristic for neglect/abandonment in older adults. In this context, policies are needed to reduce gender inequalities and implement a care network for older adults who are victims of violence.

Improving the quality of external cause of death data in Brazil: evaluation and validation of a new form to investigate garbage codes.

Garbage codes, such as external causes with no specific information, indicate poor quality cause of death data. Investigation of garbage codes via an effective instrument is necessary to convert them into useful data for public health. This study analyzed the performance and suitability of the new investigation of deaths from external causes (IDEC) form to improve the quality of external cause of death data in Brazil. The performance of the IDEC form on 133 external garbage codes deaths was compared with a stratified matched sample of 992 (16%) investigated deaths that used the standard garbage codes form. Consistency between these two groups was checked. The percentage of garbage codes from external causes reclassified into valid causes with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was analyzed. Reclassification for specific causes has been described. Qualitative data on the feasibility of the form were recorded by field investigators. Investigation using the new form reduced all external garbage codes by -92.5% (95%CI: -97.0; -88.0), whereas the existing form decreased garbage codes by -60.5% (95%CI: -63.5; -57.4). The IDEC form presented higher effectivity for external-cause garbage codes of determined intent. Deaths that remained garbage codes mainly lacked information about the circumstances of poisoning and/or vehicle accidents. Despite the fact that field investigators considered the IDEC form feasible, they suggested modifications for further improvement. The new form was more effective than the current standard form in improving the quality of defined external causes.

Comparison of crude and adjusted mortality rates from leading causes of death in northeastern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To present how the adjustment of incompleteness and misclassification of causes of death in the vital registration (VR) system can contribute to more accurate estimates of the risk of mortality from leading causes of death in northeastern Brazil. METHODS: After estimating the total numbers of deaths by age and sex in Brazil's Northeast region in 2002-2004 by correcting for undercount in the VR data, adjustment algorithms were applied to the reported cause-of-death structure. Average annual age-standardized mortality rates were computed by cause, with and without the corrections, and compared to death rates for Brazil's South region after adjustments for potential misdiagnosis. RESULTS: Death rates from ischemic heart disease, lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and perinatal conditions were more than 100% higher for both sexes than what was suggested by the routine VR data. Corrected cause-specific mortality rates were higher in the Northeast region versus the South region for the majority of causes of death, including several noncommunicable conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Failure to adjust VR data for undercount of cases reported and misdiagnoses will cause underestimation of mortality risks for the populations of the Northeast region, which are more vulnerable than those in other regions of the country. In order to more reliably understand the pattern of disease, all cause-specific mortality rates in poor populations should be adjusted.

Cardiovascular Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemics in a Large Brazilian City: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Introduction: The impact of COVID-19 pandemics on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may be caused by health system reorganization and/or collapse, or from changes in the behaviour of individuals. In Brazil, municipalities were empowered to define regulatory measures, potentially resulting in diverse effects on CVD morbimortality. Objective: To analyse the impact of COVID-19 pandemics on CVD outcomes in Belo Horizonte (BH), the sixth greater capital city in Brazil, including: mortality, mortality at home, hospitalizations, intensive care unit utilization, and in-hospital mortality; and the differential effect according to sex, age range, social vulnerability, and pandemic's phase. Methods: Ecological study analysing data from the Mortality and Hospital Information System of BH residents aged ≥30 years. CVD was defined as in Chapter IX from ICD-10. Social vulnerability was classified by a composite socioeconomic index as high, medium and low. The observed age-standardized rates for epidemiological weeks 10-48, 2020, were compared to the expected rates (mean of 2015-2019). Risk ratios (RiR) were analysed and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all estimates. Population projected to 2020 for BH and its census tracts were used to calculate rates. Results: We found no changes in CVD mortality rates (RiR 1.01, 95%CI 0.96-1.06). However, CVD deaths occurred more at homes (RiR 1.32, 95%CI 1.20-1.46) than in hospitals (RiR 0.89, 95%CI 0.79-0.99), as a result of a substantial decline in hospitalization rates, even though proportional in-hospital deaths increased. The rise in home deaths was greater in older adults and in had an increasing gradient in those more socially vulnerable (RiR 1.45); for high (RiR 1.45), medium (RiR 1.32) and low vulnerability (RiR 1.21). Conclusion: The greater occurrence of CVD deaths at home, in parallel with lower hospitalization rates, suggests that CVD care was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemics, which more adversely affected older and more socially vulnerable individuals, exacerbating health inequities in BH.

Maternal Mortality in Brazil, 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Maternal death continues to be one of the most challenging public health problems that needs to be addressed in low and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to describe the problem of maternal death in Brazil, using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD). METHODS: This study used data from the GBD 2019 to show the numbers of deaths and the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) - number of deaths/100,000 live births - in Brazil and its 27 Federated Units (FU), for ages 10 to 54 years, from 1990 to 2019. The annual variation of the MMR was estimated in 1990, 2010, and 2019. The MMR were shown for specific causes as well as for five-year age groups. The estimates were presented with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI). RESULTS: The number of maternal deaths, as well as the MMR showed a 49% reduction from 1990 to 2019. This reduction occurred heterogeneously throughout the country, and the profile of the MMR for specific causes changed between 1990 and 2019: from hypertensive gestation diseases, to indirect maternal deaths, followed by hypertensive gestation diseases. In the extreme age groups, the MMR is higher, with mortality increasing exponentially in direct proportion with age. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal deaths in Brazil have decreased substantially since 1990; however, the numbers still fall short of what was established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Indirect causes are the greatest problem in more than 60% of the FU, especially for hypertensive pregnancy diseases.

Validation of SmartVA using conventional autopsy: A study of adult deaths in Brazil.

Background: Accurate cause of death data are essential to guide health policy. However, mortality surveillance is limited in many low-income countries. In such settings, verbal autopsy (VA) is increasingly used to provide population-level cause of death data. VAs are now widely interpreted using the automated algorithms SmartVA and InterVA. Here we use conventional autopsy as the gold standard to validate SmartVA methodology. Methods: This study included adult deaths from natural causes in São Paulo and Recife for which conventional autopsy was indicated. VA was conducted with a relative of the deceased using an amended version of the SmartVA instrument to suit the local context. Causes of death from VA were produced using the SmartVA-Analyze program. Physician coded verbal autopsy (PCVA), conducted on the same questionnaires, and Global Burden of Disease Study data were used as additional comparators. Cause of death data were grouped into 10 broad causes for the validation due to the real-world utility of VA lying in identifying broad population cause of death patterns. Findings: The study included 2,060 deaths in São Paulo and 1,079 in Recife. The cause specific mortality fractions (CSMFs) estimated using SmartVA were broadly similar to conventional autopsy for: cardiovascular diseases (46.8% vs 54.0%, respectively), cancers (10.6% vs 11.4%), infections (7.0% vs 10.4%) and chronic respiratory disease (4.1% vs 3.7%), causes accounting for 76.1% of the autopsy dataset. The SmartVA CSMF estimates were lower than autopsy for "Other NCDs" (7.8% vs 14.6%) and higher for diabetes (13.0% vs 6.6%). CSMF accuracy of SmartVA compared to autopsy was 84.5%. CSMF accuracy for PCVA was 93.0%. Interpretation: The results suggest that SmartVA can, with reasonable accuracy, predict the broad cause of death groups important to assess a population's epidemiological transition. VA remains a useful tool for understanding causes of death where medical certification is not possible.

Factors associated with death in women with intimate partner violence notification in Brazil. / Fatores associados ao óbito de mulheres com notificação de violência por parceiro íntimo no Brasil.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social and public health concern. This article aims to identify factors associated with death in women with IPV notification. This is a case-control study based on the record-linkage of the Mortality Information System (SIM), from 2011 to September/2017, and the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), 2011 to 2016. The "case" group consisted of women aged 15 to 59 years old with notification of violence on SINAN, whose author was current or former intimate partner and died by any cause registered on SIM. The "control" group consisted of women 15-59 years old, living in the same municipality of the cases and victim of IPV registered on SINAN, but without a death record on SIM. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of death. 151,826 Brazilian women were victim of IPV and were notified by SINAN, and 2,538 died. The main cause of death was homicide. The following characteristics conferred a greater chance of death: having race/skin-color black or yellow; having disabilities; living in rural area; physical violence, torture and multiple types combined; violence perpetrated by a firearm, a sharp object and multiple means combined.

A violência por parceiro íntimo (VPI) é um problema social e de saúde pública. O objetivo deste artigo é identificar fatores associados ao óbito em mulheres com notificação de VPI. Estudo do tipo caso-controle a partir do relacionamento das bases de dados do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM), 2011 a setembro/2017, e do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), 2011 a 2016. O grupo "caso" foi composto por mulheres de 15 a 59 anos com notificação de violência no SINAN, cujo autor era atual ou ex-parceiro íntimo e óbito por qualquer causa básica registrado no SIM. O grupo "controle" consistiu em mulheres da mesma faixa etária, com VPI registrada no SINAN e município de residência dos casos, mas sem registro de óbito no SIM. Foi utilizada a regressão logística a fim de estimar a razão de chance de óbito. 151.826 brasileiras tiveram seus casos de VPI notificados, sendo que 2.538 morreram. A principal causa de óbito foi o homicídio. As seguintes características conferiram maior chance de óbito: raça/cor preta e amarela; ter deficiências; residir em área rural; violência física, tortura e múltiplos tipos combinados; violência perpetrada por arma de fogo, objeto perfurocortante e múltiplos meios combinados.

Higher mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in socially vulnerable areas in Belo Horizonte: implications for vaccine prioritization. / Maior mortalidade durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em áreas socialmente vulneráveis em Belo Horizonte: implicações para a priorização da vacinação.

OBJECTIVE: To assess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic according to social vulnerability by areas of Belo Horizonte (BH), aiming at strategies for vaccination. METHODS: Ecological study with mortality analysis according to census tracts classified by the Health Vulnerability Index, a composite indicator that includes socioeconomic and sanitation variables. Deaths by natural causes and by COVID-19 were obtained from the "Mortality Information System", between the 10th and 43rd epidemiological weeks (EW) of 2020. Excess mortality was calculated in a time series model, considering observed and expected deaths per EW, between 2015 and 2019, per census tracts. Mortality rates (MR) were calculated and age-standardized using population estimates from the 2010 census, by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). RESULTS: Excess mortality in BH was 16.1% (n = 1,524): 11, 18.8 and 17.3% in low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. The differences between observed and expected age-standardized MR by natural causes were equal to 59/100,000 inhabitants in BH, increasing from 31 to 77 and 95/100,000 inhabitants in the areas of low, intermediate and high vulnerability, respectively. There was an aging gradient in MR by COVID-19, ranging from 4 to 611/100,000 inhabitants among individuals aged 20-39 years and 75+ years. The COVID-19 MR per 100,000 older adults (60+ years) was 292 in BH, increasing from 179 to 354 and 476, in low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. CONCLUSION: Inequalities in mortality, particularly among older adults, combined with the limited supply of doses, demonstrate the importance of prioritizing socially vulnerable areas during vaccination against COVID-19.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a mortalidade por áreas de Belo Horizonte (BH) durante a pandemia de COVID-19 conforme a vulnerabilidade social, visando a uma estratégia de vacinação. MÉTODOS: Estudo ecológico com análise de mortalidade, segundo setores censitários classificados pelo índice de vulnerabilidade da saúde, composto de indicadores de saneamento e socioeconômicos. Óbitos por causas naturais e COVID-19 foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade, entre a 10ª e a 43ª semanas epidemiológicas (SE) de 2020. Calculou-se o excesso de mortalidade por modelo de série temporal, considerando-se as mortes observadas por SE entre 2015 e 2019, por setor censitário. Taxas de mortalidade (TM) foram calculadas e padronizadas por idade com base em estimativas populacionais do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). RESULTADOS: Houve 16,1% (n = 1.524) de excesso de mortalidade em BH: 11, 18,8 e 17,3% nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. As diferenças entre TM observadas e esperadas por causas naturais, padronizadas por idade, foi igual a 59/100 mil habitantes em BH, aumentando de 31 para 77 e 95/100 mil, nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. Houve gradiente de aumento com a idade nas TM por COVID-19, variando de 4 a 611/100 mil habitantes entre as idades de 20-39 anos e 75+ anos. A TM por COVID-19 por 100 mil idosos (60+ anos) foi igual a 292, aumentando de 179 para 354 e 476 nos setores de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Desigualdades na mortalidade, mesmo entre idosos, aliadas à baixa oferta de doses, demonstram a importância de priorizar áreas socialmente vulneráveis durante a vacinação contra COVID-19.

Evaluation study of the improvement of the quality of death information in hospitals of the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil, 2017. / Estudo avaliativo da melhoria da qualidade da informação de morte em hospitais dos estados do Rio de Janeiro e de São Paulo, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Deaths classified as Garbage Cause (GC) are considered to be of little use in triggering public health prevention actions. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of hospital research on recovering the true root cause of death. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive study on the investigation of deaths with root causes classified as garbage code in ten selected hospitals with the highest number of this cause of death in the states of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and São Paulo (SP), Brazil, in 2017. The investigation considered the patient's medical record, which contains the information collected by hospital surveillance professionals in a standardized form. RESULTS: 2,579 deaths with a GC and 2,116 with GC priorities. The highest proportion occurred in the 70-year-old or older group with differences in the predominant causes as a function of the life cycle. The GC reclassification was 41.9% and 93.6% of deaths investigated in RJ and SP, respectively. Deaths which had altered causes and remained as garbage code were analyzed for change in severity level, which take into account the potential impact of GC in the mortality profile. Thus, 70.7% and 73.6% of GC deaths with very high and with high level, respectively, were reclassified to lower levels. Among the garbage codes that went to well-defined causes, the ICD-10 External Causes chapter was the one that rendered the highest number of deaths. CONCLUSION: The investigation allowed to qualify causes of death and demonstrated the need for professional training on the definition of the root cause of death.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os óbitos classificados como causa garbage (CG) são considerados pouco úteis para desencadear ações de prevenção em saúde pública. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da investigação hospitalar na recuperação da verdadeira causa básica do óbito. METODOLOGIA: Estudo descritivo sobre a investigação dos óbitos com causa básica classificada como código garbage em dez hospitais selecionados com maior número destes óbitos nos estados do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) e de São Paulo (SP) em 2017. A investigação considerou o prontuário do paciente, com coleta de informação realizada por profissionais da vigilância hospitalar em formulário padronizado. RESULTADOS: Ocorreram 2.579 óbitos com GC e 2.116 com GC prioritária. A maior proporção se deu no grupo com 70 anos ou mais, com diferenças nas causas predominantes em função do ciclo de vida. A reclassificação da GC foi de 41,9% e 93,6% dos óbitos investigados no RJ e em SP, respectivamente. Óbitos com causas alteradas, mas que permaneceram com GC foram analisados quanto à mudança do nível de gravidade, que considera o potencial de impacto da GC sobre o perfil de mortalidade. Assim, 70,7% e 73,6% dos óbitos com GC de níveis de gravidade muito alto e alto foram reclassificados para níveis menores. Dentre os códigos garbage que passaram para causas bem definidas, o capítulo das Causas Externas da CID-10 foi o que recuperou o maior número de óbitos. CONCLUSÃO: A investigação possibilitou qualificar as causas de morte e evidenciou a necessidade de capacitação profissional sobre a definição da causa básica.

Redistribution of heart failure deaths using two methods: linkage of hospital records with death certificate data and multiple causes of death data.

Heart failure is considered a garbage code when assigned as the underlying cause of death. Reassigning garbage codes to plausible causes reduces bias and increases comparability of mortality data. Two redistribution methods were applied to Brazilian data, from 2008 to 2012, for decedents aged 55 years and older. In the multiple causes of death method, heart failure deaths were redistributed based on the proportion of underlying causes found in matched deaths that had heart failure listed as an intermediate cause. In the hospitalization data method, heart failure deaths were redistributed based on data from the decedents' corresponding hospitalization record. There were 123,269 (3.7%) heart failure deaths. The method with multiple causes of death redistributed 25.3% to hypertensive heart and kidney diseases, 22.6% to coronary heart diseases and 9.6% to diabetes. The total of 41,324 heart failure deaths were linked to hospitalization records. Heart failure was listed as the principal diagnosis in 45.8% of the corresponding hospitalization records. For those, no redistribution occurred. For the remaining ones, the hospitalization data method redistributed 21.2% to a group with other (non-cardiac) diseases, 6.5% to lower respiratory infections and 9.3% to other garbage codes. Heart failure is a frequently used garbage code in Brazil. We used two redistribution methods, which were straightforwardly applied but led to different results. These methods need to be validated, which can be done in the wake of a recent national study that will investigate a big sample of hospital deaths with garbage codes listed as underlying causes.

Assessment of the investigation of deaths from ill-defined causes in the state of Bahia in 2010. / Avaliação da investigação de óbitos por causas mal definidas no estado da Bahia, Brasil, em 2010.

The investigation of deaths from ill-defined causes (DIDC) has been a strategy of health services to reduce the proportion of these events. This study aimed to estimate the adherence of municipalities to the use of recommended forms in the investigation of DIDC and the impact of these investigations on the reduction of these deaths in the Mortality Information System. The use of the Investigation of Death from Ill-defined Cause (IOCMD) and Verbal Autopsy (VA)forms and the proportion of reclassified underlying cause of death following investigations were analyzed in a probabilistic sample of 27 municipalities of Bahia state, and its capital Salvador, in 2010. Of the 27 municipalities, approximately 50% used the recommended forms to investigate DIDCs. Of the 1,092DIDCs in the sample, 53.1% were investigated: in 40.5% of the cases, only the IOCMD form was used; in 15.3%, only the VA form was used; and both forms were used in 14.3% of the cases. The investigation of DIDCs reduced the percentages of these deaths from 16.5% to 9.9% and proved to be more effective when performed using the recommended forms.

A investigação de óbitos por causas mal definidas (CMD) tem sido uma estratégia utilizada pelos serviços de saúde para redução do percentual destes óbitos. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a adesão dos municípios na utilização de formulários preconizados na investigação de óbitos por CMD e o impacto destas investigações na redução percentual desses óbitos no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. Analisou-se a utilização dos formulários Investigação do Óbito com Causa Mal Definida (IOCMD) e autópsia verbal (AV), e o percentual de reclassificação da causa básica (CB) de morte após as investigações, em uma amostra probabilística de 27 municípios no Estado da Bahia e a capital Salvador, no ano de 2010. Dos 27 municípios da amostra, aproximadamente 50% investigaram os óbitos por CMD utilizando-se os formulários preconizados. Foram identificados 1092 óbitos por CMD, dos quais 53,1% foram investigados: em 40,5% dos casos utilizou-se apenas o formulário IOCMD, apenas o formulário AV em 15,3%, e ambos os formulários em 14,3% dos casos. A investigação dos óbitos por CMD possibilitou a redução do percentual desses óbitos de 16,5% para 9,9%, e mostrou-se mais efetiva quando realizada utilizando-se os formulários preconizados.

Physical inactivity as risk factor for mortality by diabetes mellitus in Brazil in 1990, 2006, and 2016.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to estimate the mortality due to diabetes mellitus attributed to physical inactivity in Brazil, to analyze these estimate in three points in time (1990, 2006 and, 2016), and to analyze these estimates according to the socioeconomic status of Brazilian states. METHODS: All deaths and diseases recorded in Brazil during this period were analyzed. Surveys of the general adult population using random sampling procedures evaluating self-reported physical activity in all life domains in Brazil were included. The total number and the age-standardized rates of deaths, and population-attributable fraction (PAF) for diabetes mellitus attributed to physical inactivity in the years 1990, 2006, and 2016 were estimated. Socioeconomic Development Index (SDI) was used as an indicator of socioeconomic status of Brazilian states. RESULTS: In relation to mortality due to diabetes mellitus attributed to physical inactivity, 736 deaths were estimated in 1990, 1337 deaths were estimated in 2006, and 1897 in 2016, which represented, in 1990, an age-standardized mortality rate (per 100,000 inhabitants) of 1.2, 2.1 in 2006, and 1.1 in 2016. Approximately 3.0% (PAF) of deaths due to diabetes mellitus could be avoided if the Brazilian population were physically active. In 2006 and 2016, Brazilian states with worst socioeconomic indicators had higher age-standardized mortality rate by diabetes mellitus due to physical inactivity. CONCLUSION: These findings are the first to estimate the burden of diabetes mellitus due to physical inactivity in Brazil and support the promotion of physical activity in the Brazilian population to prevent and manage diabetes mellitus.

Preventable deaths in childhood, according to actions of the Unified Health System, Brazil. / Mortes evitáveis na infância, segundo ações do Sistema Único de Saúde, Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mortality trend of children under five years of age living in Brazil and regions, using the "Brazilian List of Preventable Causes of Death." METHOD: Ecological time-series study of mortality rate due to preventable and non-preventable causes, with corrections for ill-defined causes and underreporting of deaths from 2000 to 2013. RESULTS: In Brazil, preventable death rates (5.1% per year) had a higher decrease compared with non-preventable ones (2.5% per year). Preventable causes associated with proper care during pregnancy had the highest concentration of deaths in 2013 (12,267) and the second lowest average percentage reduction in the year (2.1%) and for the period (24.4%). The South and Southeast regions had the lowest mortality rates in childhood. However, the Northeast region had the highest decrease in reducible child mortality (6.1% per year) and the Midwest, the lowest (3.5% per year). CONCLUSION: The decrease in childhood mortality rates was expected in the last decade, suggesting the progress in the response of health systems, in addition to improvements in health conditions and social determinants. Special attention should be given to pregnancy-related causes, i.e., expand the quality of prenatal care, in particular, due to fetal and newborn deaths resulted from maternal conditions, which increased significantly in the period (8,3% per year).

OBJETIVO: Analisar a tendência da mortalidade de crianças menores de cinco anos, residentes no Brasil e regiões, utilizando a "Lista Brasileira de Causas de Mortes Evitáveis". MÉTODO: Estudo ecológico de séries temporais da taxa de mortalidade por causas evitáveis e não evitáveis, com correções para as causas mal definidas e para o sub-registro de óbitos informados, no período de 2000 a 2013. RESULTADOS: No Brasil, houve maior declínio da taxa de mortalidade por causas evitáveis (5,1% ao ano), comparadas com as causas não evitáveis (2,5% ao ano). As causas evitáveis por adequada atenção à gestação constituíram a maior concentração de óbitos em 2013 (12.267) e tiveram a segunda menor redução percentual média anual (2,1%) e do período (24,4%). As menores taxas de mortalidade na infância foram evidenciadas nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Observa-se, no entanto, que a Região Nordeste apresentou o maior declínio da mortalidade infantil reduzível (6,1% ao ano) e o Centro-Oeste, o menor (3,5% ao ano). CONCLUSÃO: O declínio da taxa de mortalidade na infância já era esperado nessa última década, levando a acreditar na evolução da resposta dos sistemas de saúde, além de nas melhorias nas condições de saúde e determinantes sociais. Atenção especial deve ser oferecida às causas relacionadas à gestação, ou seja, avançar na qualidade do pré-natal, em particular, em razão da ocorrência de mortes no feto e no recém-nascido oriundas de afecções maternas que apresentaram importante acréscimo no período (8,3% ao ano).

Probability of premature death for chronic non-communicable diseases, Brazil and Regions, projections to 2025. / Probabilidade de morte prematura por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, Brasil e regiões, projeções para 2025.

OBJECTIVE: Objective: To analyze the mortality trends for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in the period 2000-2013 and its probability of death until 2025. METHOD: time series analysis of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, with correction for ill-defined causes and underreporting of deaths and calculation of probability of death. RESULTS: There was an average decline of 2.5% per year in all four major NCDs in Brazil. There was a decline in all regions and federal units. The reduced likelihood of death by 30% in 2000 to 26.1% in 2013 and expected decline to 20.5% in 2025. CONCLUSION: From the trend of reduction is expected to reach Brazil reducing overall goal 25% by 2025.

OBJETIVO: Analisar as tendências de mortalidade por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) no período de 2000 a 2013 e a probabilidade de morte até 2025. MÉTODO: Análise de série temporal de mortalidade das DCNT (doenças cardiovasculares, câncer, diabetes e doenças respiratórias crônicas), com correções para causas mal definidas e sub-registro de óbitos, e a probabilidade de morte por essas doenças. RESULTADOS: Houve declínio médio de 2,5% ao ano no conjunto das quatro principais DCNT no Brasil entre 2000 e 2013, em todas as regiões e unidades federativas. A probabilidade de morte foi reduzida de 30% em 2000 para 26,1% em 2013, e estima-se que caia para 20,5% em 2025. CONCLUSÕES: Dada a tendência de queda, prevê-se que o Brasil atinja a meta global de redução de 25% até 2025.