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.

Fármacos novos e necessidades do Sistema Único de Saúde no Brasil / New drugs and the Brazilian unified health system needs

Confrontar os medicamentos novos lançados no mercado com as doenças que mais provocam mortalidade no Brasil para identificar se a necessidade de tratamento farmacológico é suprida e, por outro lado, esclarecer se há medicamentos novos desnecessários. Identificar iniciativas nacionais de pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos e medicamentos. Levantamento em bases de dados de medicamentos, informações sobre mortalidade providas pelo SUS e pesquisa dirigida na literatura. Há políticas públicas em número crescente no país referentes ao acesso a medicamentos e a pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos e medicamentos, mas os medicamentos novos lançados no mercado brasileiro se ajustam de forma rudimentar às necessidades de saúde pública de tratamentos farmacológicos. Assim, há doenças, como as cardiovasculares, que têm grande quantidade de medicamentos novos lançados e, outras, como hanseníase, para a qual não há tratamentos novos. Adicionalmente, a inovação terapêutica dos medicamentos novos é muito pequena, da ordem de 30%, em flagrante contraste com o esperado para medicamentos novos. São recomendadas políticas públicas para pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos e medicamentos. Essas deveriam incentivar o aproveitamento das iniciativas de pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos e medicamentos já existentes e estimular pesquisadores, instituições e empresas a introduzir medicamentos novos pautados nas necessidades de saúde pública para tratamentos farmacológicos, quando estes forem necessários.

To confront new drugs launched into the market with those diseases which are the cause of most deaths in Brazil with the purpose to identify if they supply the pharmacologic treatment needs and, on the other hand, to identify unnecessary new drugs. Identify national initiatives in research and development of new drugs. Search for new drugs in drug databases and mortality informationprovided by SUS and in the literature. There is an increasing number of public policies in the country related to drugs access and to research and development, but new drugs launched into the Brazilian market poorly adjust to public health needs for pharmacologic treatment. Therefore, there are diseases, like cardiovascular ones, with a large number of new drugs launched and others, like leprosy, for which there is no new pharmacologic treatment. Additionally, the therapeutic innovation of new drugs is very low, at around 30%, in sharp contrast with what isexpected for new drugs. Public policies for research and development of new drugs are proposed. These policies should use existing research and development initiatives and stimulate researchers, institutions and companies to introduce new drugs according to public health pharmacological treatment needs.

New drugs in Brazil: do they meet Brazilian public health needs?

OBJECTIVES: To describe the new drugs marketed in Brazil during the period 2000-2004, compare the description to the country's burden of disease, and suggest initiatives capable of addressing the situation from the perspective of a developing country. METHODS: Records of new drugs were surveyed in an official drug registration database. The new drugs were categorized by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification, indication, and innovation, and compared with the needs of the country's burden of disease. Data on the morbidity and mortality rates of selected diseases (diabetes, Hansen's disease, hypertension, tuberculosis) were retrieved from official documents and the literature. RESULTS: During the period investigated, 109 new drugs were launched. Most were general anti-infectives for systemic use (19), followed by antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (16). The number of new drugs launched in 2004 was roughly one-third that of 2000. Of 65 new drugs, only one-third can be classified as innovative. Most new drugs were intended to treat noninfectious diseases that typically affect developed countries, diseases that constitute only a fraction of the country's challenges. CONCLUSIONS: A mismatch occurs between public health needs and the new drugs launched on the Brazilian market. Not only did the number of new drugs decrease in the study period, but only a few were actually new in therapeutic terms. Developing countries must acquire expertise in research and development to strengthen their capacity to innovate and produce the drugs they need.

New drugs in Brazil: do they meet Brazilian public health needs? / Nuevos medicamentos en Brasil: ¿responden a las necesidades de la salud pública brasileña?

OBJECTIVES: To describe the new drugs marketed in Brazil during the period 2000-2004, compare the description to the country's burden of disease, and suggest initiatives capable of addressing the situation from the perspective of a developing country. METHODS: Records of new drugs were surveyed in an official drug registration database. The new drugs were categorized by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification, indication, and innovation, and compared with the needs of the country's burden of disease. Data on the morbidity and mortality rates of selected diseases (diabetes, Hansen's disease, hypertension, tuberculosis) were retrieved from official documents and the literature. RESULTS: During the period investigated, 109 new drugs were launched. Most were general anti-infectives for systemic use (19), followed by antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (16). The number of new drugs launched in 2004 was roughly one-third that of 2000. Of 65 new drugs, only one-third can be classified as innovative. Most new drugs were intended to treat noninfectious diseases that typically affect developed countries, diseases that constitute only a fraction of the country's challenges. CONCLUSIONS: A mismatch occurs between public health needs and the new drugs launched on the Brazilian market. Not only did the number of new drugs decrease in the study period, but only a few were actually new in therapeutic terms. Developing countries must acquire expertise in research and development to strengthen their capacity to innovate and produce the drugs they need.

OBJETIVOS: Describir los nuevos medicamentos lanzados al mercado en Brasil durante el período 2000-2004, comparar su descripción con la carga de enfermedades del país y recomendar iniciativas que permitan enfrentar la situación desde la perspectiva de un país en desarrollo. MÉTODOS: Se buscaron los nuevos medicamentos en una base de datos oficial de registro de medicamentos. Los nuevos medicamentos se categorizaron según la Clasificación Química Anatómico-Terapéutica (ATC), su indicación y su grado de innovación, y se compararon con las necesidades según la carga de enfermedades del país. Los datos de morbilidad y mortalidad de cuatro enfermedades seleccionadas (diabetes, enfermedad de Hansen, hipertensión y tuberculosis) se tomaron de documentos oficiales y de la literatura. RESULTADOS: En el período investigado se lanzaron al mercado 109 nuevos medicamentos. La mayoría eran antibióticos generales de uso sistémico (19), seguidos de antineoplásicos y agentes inmunomoduladores (16). El número de medicamentos nuevos lanzados en 2004 fue aproximadamente una tercera parte de los lanzados en 2000. De 65 nuevos medicamentos, solamente una tercera parte puede considerarse innovadora. La mayoría de los nuevos medicamentos estaban dirigidos a tratar enfermedades no infecciosas que por lo general afectan a los países industrializados y que constituyen una pequeña parte de los problemas que aquejan a Brasil. CONCLUSIONES: No hay correspondencia entre las necesidades de salud pública de Brasil y los nuevos medicamentos lanzados al mercado en ese país. No solamente disminuyó el número de nuevos medicamentos en el período estudiado, sino que solo unos pocos eran realmente nuevos en términos terapéuticos. Los países en desarrollo deben ganar experiencia en investigación y desarrollo para fortalecer su capacidad de innovar y producir los medicamentos que necesitan.