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 infant mortality in Brazil at subnational levels in Brazil, 1990 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: In this study, infant mortality rate (IMR) inequalities are analyzed from 1990 to 2015 in different geographic scales. METHODS: The Ministry of Health (MoH) IMR estimates by Federative Units (FU) were compared to those obtained by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) group. In order to measure the inequalities of the IMR by FU, the ratios from highest to lowest from 1990 to 2015 were calculated. Maps were elaborated in 2000, 2010, and 2015 at the municipality level. To analyze the effect of income, IMR inequalities by GDP per capita were analyzed, comparing Brazil and the FU to other same-income level countries in 2015, and the IMR municipal estimates were analyzed by income deciles, in 2000 and 2010. RESULTS: IMR decreased from 47.1 to 13.4 per 1000 live births (LB) from 1990 to 2015, with an annual decrease rate of 4.9%. The decline was less pronounced for the early neonatal annual rate (3.5%). The Northeast region showed the most significant annual decline (6.2%). The IMR estimates carried out by the GBD were about 20% higher than those obtained by the MoH, but in terms of their inequalities, the ratio from the highest to the lowest IMR among the 27 FU decreased from 4 to 2, for both methods. The percentage of municipalities with IMR higher than 40 per 1000 LB decreased from 23% to 2%, between 2000 and 2015. Comparing the IMR distribution by income deciles, all inequality measures of the IMR decreased markedly from 2000 to 2010. CONCLUSION: The results showed a marked decrease in the IMR inequalities in Brazil, regardless of the geographic breakdown and the calculation method. Despite clear signs of progress in curbing infant mortality, there are still challenges in reducing its level, such as the concentration of deaths in the early neonatal period, and the specific increases of post neonatal mortality in 2016, after the recent cuts in social investments.

The burden of diabetes and hyperglycemia in Brazil: a global burden of disease study 2017.

BACKGROUND: The Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2017 database permits an up-to-date evaluation of the frequency and burden of diabetes at the state level in Brazil and by type of diabetes. The objective of this report is to describe, using these updated GBD data, the current and projected future burden of diabetes and hyperglycemia in Brazil, as well as its variation over time and space. METHODS: We derived all estimates using the GBD 2016 and 2017 databases to characterize disease burden related to diabetes and hyperglycemia in Brazil, from 1990 to 2040, using standard GBD methodologies. RESULTS: The overall estimated prevalence of diabetes in Brazil in 2017 was 4.4% (95%UI 4.0-4.9%), with 4.0% of those with diabetes being identified as having type 1 disease. While the crude prevalence of type 1 disease has remained relatively stable from 1990, type 2 prevalence has increased 30% for males and 26% for females. In 2017, approximately 3.3% of all disability-adjusted life years lost were due to diabetes and 5.9% to hyperglycemia. Diabetes prevalence and mortality were highest in the Northeast region and growing fastest in the North, Northeast, and Center-West regions. Over this period, despite a slight decrease in age-standardized incidence of type 2 diabetes, crude overall burden due to hyperglycemia has increased 19%, with population aging being a main cause for this rise. Cardiovascular diseases, responsible for 38.3% of this burden in 1990, caused only 25.9% of it in 2017, with premature mortality attributed directly to diabetes causing 31.6% of the 2017 burden. Future projections suggest that the diabetes mortality burden will increase 144% by 2040, more than twice the expected increase in crude disease burden overall (54%). By 2040, diabetes is projected to be Brazil's third leading cause of death and hyperglycemia its third leading risk factor, in terms of deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The disease burden in Brazil attributable to diabetes and hyperglycemia, already large, is predicted by GBD estimates to more than double to 2040. Strong actions by the Ministry of Health are necessary to counterbalance the major deleterious effects of population aging.

The translation into Portuguese of the 11th International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11). / Tradução para a língua portuguesa da 11a Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde (CID-11).

The 11th International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) represents an advance in the focus on knowledge and new disease approaches. The ICD is used for different practical purposes, enabling assessment of progress in the global health agenda, resource allocation, patient safety, health care qualification, and health insurance reimbursement. It is entirely digital, with technological resources that allow periodic updating. In early 2022, ICD-11 entered into official force, having been made available in several official ICD languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, and English. The translation process into Brazilian Portuguese, coordinated by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), with support from the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MS) and PAHO/WHO, is presented here. The work was carried out in three stages between August 2021 and December 2022 by translators with different backgrounds: medical specialists (49), physiotherapists (1), pharmacologists (1), and dentists (1). This methodological article aims to broaden the discussion of perspectives on implementing the ICD-11 in Brazil and build an opportunity for its adaptation and use by other Portuguese-speaking countries.

A 11a Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde representa um avanço no enfoque do conhecimento e em novas abordagens das doenças. A Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde é utilizada para diferentes finalidades práticas, possibilitando avaliação do avanço da agenda de saúde global, alocação de recursos, segurança do paciente, qualificação da assistência à saúde e reembolso de seguros de saúde. É inteiramente digital, com recursos tecnológicos que permitem sua atualização periódica. No início de 2022, a 11a Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde entrou em vigência oficial, tendo sido disponibilizada em vários de seus idiomas oficiais, como o árabe, chinês, espanhol, francês e inglês. Apresenta-se aqui o processo de tradução para a língua portuguesa em uso no Brasil, coordenado pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, com apoio do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil e da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde/Organização Mundial da Saúde. O trabalho foi realizado em três etapas entre agosto de 2021 e dezembro de 2022 por tradutores com diferentes formações: médicos especialistas (49), fisioterapeuta (1), farmacologista (1) e odontologista (1). Com este artigo metodológico, almeja-se ampliar a discussão de perspectivas para implementação da 11a Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde no Brasil e construir uma oportunidade para sua adaptação e uso por outros países de língua oficial portuguesa.

The burden of low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout and their respective attributable risk factors in Brazil: results of the GBD 2017 study.

INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are a major cause of disability worldwide. Different modifiable risk factors are associated to these disorders. The objective of this study was to analyze the burden of low back pain (LBP), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and gout, attributable to risk factors, in 2017. METHODS: The burden of LBP, RA, OA, and gout, and attributable risk factors were analyzed using data extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Brasil-2017 study. Descriptive analysis was conducted to compare disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates between sexes and age groups (15-49 and 50-69 years), in 2017. RESULTS: The highest rates of DALY due to LBP were attributed to occupational ergonomic factors in the 15-49-year group, regardless of sex and males aged 50-69 years, whereas smoking was the major contributor in the 50-69-year female group. RA-related DALY rates were attributed to smoking and were higher among women aged 50-69 years. High body mass index (BMI) was the most relevant risk factor for the burden of OA, with higher rates detected in the 50-69-year group, and it was the most significant risk factor for DALY rate attributed to gout, regardless of sex or age group. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational surveillance measures are indicated to prevent LBP. Actions to decrease smoking and overweight, and the surveillance of weight gain are warranted to decrease the burden of LBP, RA and OA, and gout, respectively. These actions will be more effective if age and sex differentials are considered in planning.

Excess Mortality due to natural causes among whites and blacks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Excess Mortality by all causes considers deaths directly related to COVID-19 and those attributed to conditions caused by the pandemic. When stratified by social dimensions, such as race/color, it allows for the evaluation of more vulnerable populations. The study estimated the excess mortality by natural causes, separating the white and black populations in 2020. METHODS: Public civil registration data on deaths observed in 2020, corrected for under registration, were used. The expected number of deaths was estimated based on the mortality rates observed in 2019, applied to the estimated population in 2020. The difference between the values expected and observed and the proportion of excess was considered the excess mortality. RESULTS: The present study found an excess of 270,321 deaths (22.2% above the expected) in 2020. Every state of Brazil reported deaths above the corresponding expected figure. The excess was higher for men (25.2%) than for women (19.0%). Blacks showed an excess of 27.8%, as compared to whites at 17.6%. In both sexes and all age groups, excess was higher in the black population, especially in the South, Southeast, and Midwest regions. São Paulo, the largest in population number, had twice as much excess death in the black population (25.1%) than in the white population (11.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed racial disparities in excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. The higher excess found for the black suggests an intrinsic relationship with the socioeconomic situation, further exposing the Brazilian reality, in which social and structural inequality is evident.

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.

Underreporting of AIDS deaths in Brazil: linkage of hospital records with death certificate data. / Subnotificação de óbitos por AIDS no Brasil: linkage dos registros hospitalares com dados de declaração de óbito.

This study investigated the underreporting of deaths due to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Brazil, using the product of the linkage between the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Hospital Information System (SIH) for the years 2008 to 2012. The hypothesis was that there were deaths recorded in the SIM that should have AIDS as the underlying cause of death, but that had been poorly classified. Many of the decedents had previous hospitalizations due to the illness. Underreported AIDS deaths were defined taking into account the coding rules of the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision, in order to discriminate AIDS deaths from those due to other causes in people living with HIV / AIDS. In this period, 60,362 deceased had AIDS as the underlying cause, and we found another 2,671 (4.2%) as underreported causes. Underreported deaths increased the average AIDS mortality rate from 6.3/100,000 to 6.6/100,000. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that, through linkage in between SIH and SIM, it is possible to find underreporting of AIDS deaths in Brazil. These results serve as a warning for the need for actions that would promote a better certification of the causes of death among AIDS patients.

Este estudo investigou a subnotificação de óbitos por Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (AIDS) no Brasil, utilizando o produto do pareamento entre o Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM) e o Sistema de Informação Hospitalar (SIH) para os anos de 2008 a 2012. A hipótese era de que houvesse óbitos registrados no SIM que deveriam ter a AIDS como causa básica da morte, mas que tinham causas mal classificadas. Muitos desses falecidos tiveram internações anteriores devido à doença. Os óbitos por AIDS subnotificados foram definidos levando-se em consideração as regras de codificação da Classificação Internacional de Doenças 10ª Revisão, com vistas a discriminar os óbitos por AIDS daqueles devido a outras causas em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Nesse período, 60.362 falecidos tiveram a AIDS como causa básica, e encontramos outros 2.671 (4,2%) como causas subnotificadas. Os óbitos subnotificados aumentaram a taxa média de mortalidade por AIDS no período de 6,3/100.000 para 6,6/100.000. Em conclusão, este estudo demonstrou que, através do pareamento entre o SIH e o SIM, é possível encontrar subnotificação de óbitos por AIDS no Brasil. Esses resultados servem de alerta para a necessidade de ações que promovam uma melhor certificação das causas de óbitos entre os pacientes com AIDS.

Years of life lost by CNCD attributed to occupational hazards in Brazil: GBD 2016 study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the years of life lost due to premature death and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) as a result of chronic noncommunicable diseases attributable to occupational hazard factors, and to compare their position according to the risk ranking for chronic noncommunicable diseases in 1990 and 2016. METHODS: Data for the DALY indicator, estimated from the Global Burden of Disease 2016 (GBD 2016) study, were analyzed for noncommunicable chronic diseases attributable to occupational, and other risk factors, selected in Brazil. A descriptive analysis was performed comparing the proportion of DALY by sex and age group (15 to 49 and 50 to 69 years old), as well as the ranking of occupational hazard factors in 1990 and 2016. RESULTS: In 2016, ergonomic risk factors, carcinogenic agents, and noise in the workplace were among the 25 largest contributors to DALY for chronic noncommunicable diseases affecting the age group between 15 and 49 years. The contribution of all occupational hazard factors increased in 2016, except for occupational aerodispersoids affecting men. Concerning the age group between 50 and 69, occupational carcinogens stand out, with an increase of 26.0% for men, and 17.1% for women in 2016. Risk factors evaluated according to their 1990 and 2016 ranking show that occupational hazards have all scored higher on the second evaluation (2016), especially when compared with other risks. CONCLUSIONS: The global burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases attributed to occupational hazard factors has become increasingly important. We suggest the strengthening of the approach of occupational hazard factors in the agendas for tackling these diseases in Brazil.

The importance of surveillance in cases of and mortality from the COVID-19 epidemic in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2020. / A importância da vigilância de casos e óbitos e a epidemia da COVID-19 em Belo Horizonte, 2020.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the actions carried out by the epidemiological surveillance system in Belo Horizonte to address the COVID-19 epidemic and the timeless of the data for detecting transmission in 2020. METHODS: The sources of information used by the epidemiological surveillance of the municipality for COVID-19 were identified and the temporal distribution and interval for detection of confirmed cases of the disease were analyzed. RESULTS: The city's epidemiological surveillance uses outpatient, hospital, public and private laboratory notifications as data sources. For reporting COVID-19 cases in official information systems, there is also an active search of laboratory results linked to suspected deaths investigated. From January to April 2020, 1,449 hospitalized cases of COVID-19 were reported, the first case being detected in late February 2020. Of the total 1,025 laboratory samples of cases hospitalized after the 8th epidemiological week, 87 (8.5%) of COVID-19 cases were confirmed. The median time between the onset of symptoms and the release of laboratory results was 12 days for the analyzed period. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological surveillance uses several data sources to monitor and analyze the transmission of COVID-19. The timeliness of this system to detect cases of the disease is compromised by the delay in the release of laboratory results, which has been a considerable challenge for adequate surveillance.

Deaths from sepsis: underlying causes of death after investigation in 60 Brazilian municipalities in 2017. / Mortes por sepse: causas básicas do óbito após investigação em 60 municípios do Brasil em 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis represents the occurrence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome triggered by the initial infection of an organ or system. When sepsis is certified as the cause of death, the first diagnosis is lost, leading to inaccurate information as to its origin. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the underlying causes of death from sepsis after investigation in 60 Brazilian municipalities in 2017. METHODOLOGY: All deaths recorded in the Mortality Information System (SIM) as sepsis in 2017 were selected, and the proportions of reclassified deaths were calculated based on the results of research conducted in hospitals and other health services. RESULTS: Of the 6,486 deaths from sepsis that occurred in the 60 municipalities, 1,584 (24.4%) were investigated, and of these, 1,308 (82.6%) were reclassified with other underlying causes. Individuals aged from 70 to 89 years old showed the highest concentration in the records, with 49.3% of cases. More than 60% of the deaths from sepsis reclassified after the investigation had chronic non-communicable diseases as underlying causes (65.6%), with diabetes being the most common specific cause in this group. Communicable diseases (9.6%) and external causes (5.6%) such as falls were also detected as underlying causes. CONCLUSION: The investigation of deaths from sepsis made it possible to identify the true causes of death and the proportions of reclassification. This information will improve the quality of mortality data and support the planning of public health actions in Brazil.

INTRODUÇÃO: A sepse representa a ocorrência de síndrome de resposta inflamatória sistêmica desencadeada por infecção inicial de um órgão ou sistema. Quando a sepse é atestada como causa do óbito, perde-se o primo diagnóstico, condicionando perda de informação quanto à sua origem. OBJETIVO: Analisar as causas básicas após investigação de óbitos por sepse em 60 municípios do Brasil em 2017. METODOLOGIA: Foram selecionados todos os óbitos registrados em 2017 no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade como sepse, e analisadas as proporções dos óbitos reclassificados após investigação em hospitais e outros serviços de saúde. RESULTADOS: Entre os 6.486 óbitos por sepse ocorridos nos 60 municípios foram investigados 1.584 (24,4%) e, destes, 1.308 (82,6%) foram reclassificados com outras causas básicas. A faixa etária de 70 a 89 anos obteve a maior concentração de registros, com 49,3% dos casos. Mais de 60% dos óbitos por sepse reclassificados após investigação tiveram doenças crônicas não transmissíveis como causa básica (65,6%), sendo a diabetes a causa específica mais comum neste grupamento. Doenças transmissíveis (9,6%) e causas externas (5,6%) como quedas foram também detectadas como causas básicas. CONCLUSÃO: A partir das investigações dos óbitos por sepses foi possível conhecer a verdadeira causa de morte e as proporções de reclassificação. Essas informações contribuirão para melhorar a qualidade dos dados de mortalidade e para subsidiar o planejamento de ações em saúde pública no Brasil.

Improving the usefulness of mortality data: reclassification of ill-defined causes based on medical records and home interviews in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Brazil presented a high proportion of ill-defined causes of death (IDCD) in 2000, compromising accurate cause-of-death analysis. OBJECTIVE: To analyze specific underlying causes for deaths originally assigned as IDCD in the Mortality Information System (SIM - Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade), after investigation activities implemented in country between 2006 and 2017. METHOD: For all IDCD identified in the SIM, municipal health professionals collected information about the final disease obtained from hospital records, autopsies, forms of family health teams, and home investigation. Specific causes among reclassified IDCD after investigation were evaluated according to age groups and four calendar periods. RESULTS: Proportions of IDCD reassigned to other causes after review increased over time, reaching 30.1% in 2017. From a total of 257,367 IDCD reclassified in 2006-2017, neonatal-related conditions, injury, ischemic heart disease and stroke were the leading causes detected in the age groups 0-9 years, 10-29 years, 30-69 years, 70 years and over, respectively. DISCUSSION: The similarity and plausibility of cause-specific proportions derived from the reclassification of IDCD by age group over time indicate the accuracy of the investigation data. CONCLUSION: High proportions of IDCD reassigned to more informative causes after review indicate the success of this approach to correct misclassification in the SIM, an initiative that should be maintained. Training physicians on death certification along with better quality of medical care and access to health services would lead to further improvement.

Investigation of garbage code deaths to improve the quality of cause-of-death in Brazil: results from a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Reliable cause-of-death statistics are an important source of information on trends and differentials in population health. In Brazil, the Mortality Information System is responsible for compiling cause of death (CoD) data. Despite the success in reducing R-codes ill-defined causes of death, other garbage codes (GC), classified as causes that cannot be the underlying CoD, according to the Global Burden of Disease study, remain a challenge. The Ministry of Health (MoH) aims to decrease the proportion of all GCs, and a pilot study tested a comprehensive strategy to investigate GC deaths that occurred in 2015. METHODS: The research was conducted in seven Brazilian cities during five months in 2016: two rural cities, one metropolitan area, and four capitals. For all GCs selected, municipal healthcare workers collected information about the terminal disease from hospital records, autopsies, family health teams, and home investigation. The fieldwork was coordinated at Federal level in partnership with State and municipal teams. RESULTS: Out of 1,242 deaths selected, physicians analyzed the information collected and certified the CoD in 1,055 deaths, resulting in 92.6% of cases having their underlying cause changed to a usable ICD-10 code. DISCUSSION: It is noteworthy the capacity the health teams in the seven cities showed during the implementation of the pilot. CONCLUSION: After results analysis, the GC investigation protocol was modified, and the implementation scaled up to 60 cities in 2017.

Change in the profile of causes of death after investigation of hospital deaths in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2017. / Mudança no perfil de causas de morte após investigação de óbitos hospitalares em Belo Horizonte, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Deaths certified with ill-defined causes or garbage codes (GC) compromise the analysis of mortality and its use for planning and evaluation of public health policies. The hospital investigation of these causes is one of the strategies qualifying the profile of mortality in the country. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in the hospital mortality profile after investigation of deaths certified with GC in 2017 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. METHODS: A sample of hospital deaths reported with GC in the Mortality Information System (SIM) of Belo Horizonte in 2017 was investigated and subsequently certified by a physician to compare the mortality profile before and after investigation. RESULTS: After investigating 1,395 deaths out of 3,038 reported with GC, a reduction of 35.5% of these causes was observed. Groups of all ages presented decreases in GC occurrence. A higher proportional increase was observed for deaths due to ischemic heart diseases, Alzheimer's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and external causes of death (accidental falls, homicides and traffic/transport accidents). CONCLUSION: The investigation on reported hospital deaths is one of the strategies to improve mortality statistics, reducing the occurrence of GC among reported deaths and changing the mortality profile in these facilities. The importance of continuous physician training in cause-of-death certification is emphasized.

INTRODUÇÃO: Óbitos declarados com causas mal definidas, ou causas garbage (CG), comprometem a análise da mortalidade e sua utilização para planejamento e avaliação de políticas públicas de saúde. A investigação hospitalar destas causas é uma das estratégias para qualificação do perfil de mortalidade no país. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a mudança no perfil de mortalidade hospitalar após investigação de óbitos declarados com CG, em 2017, em Belo Horizonte. MÉTODOS: Tomou-se uma amostra dos óbitos hospitalares notificados com CG no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade de Belo Horizonte em 2017. Posteriormente, os dados foram investigados e analisados por médico, para comparação do perfil de mortalidade antes e depois do processo de investigação. RESULTADOS: Após investigação de 1.395 óbitos, dentre 3.038 declarados com CG, houve redução de 35,5% para estas causas. Todas as faixas etárias apresentaram decremento na ocorrência de CG. Observou-se maior incremento proporcional para os óbitos causados por doenças isquêmicas do coração, doença de Alzheimer, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico e hemorrágico e as mortes por causas externas (quedas acidentais, homicídios e acidentes de trânsito/transporte). CONCLUSÃO: A investigação de óbitos hospitalares notificados é uma das estratégias para aprimorar as estatísticas de mortalidade, reduzindo a ocorrência de CG entre as mortes declaradas e alterando o perfil de mortalidade nestes estabelecimentos. Enfatiza-se a importância de educação permanente de médicos para qualificação das causas de morte.

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.

Improvement of the unspecified external causes classification based on the investigation of death in Brazil in 2017. / Melhoria da classificação das causas externas inespecíficas de mortalidade baseada na investigação do óbito no Brasil em 2017.

BACKGROUND: Unspecified causes of death are among the traditional indicators of quality of information. OBJECTIVE: To verify the performance of the 60 cities in the Data for Health Initiative project and to analyze the reclassification of unspecified external causes of death (UEC). METHODS: Using the 2017 records from the Mortality Information System, the proportion and percent change in UEC were compared after investigation between project cities and other cities, and the percent of reclassification to specific external causes was calculated. RESULTS: The project cities comprised 52% (n = 11,759) of the total UEC in Brazil, of which 64.5% were reclassified after investigation, whereas the other cities reclassified 31% of UEC. Results were similar for men, youth, blacks, metropolitan cities, the Southeast region, and deaths attested by forensic institutes. In the project cities, pedestrian traffic accidents were external causes with greater reclassification. In men, the UEC was reclassified to homicides (23.8%) and accident of terrestrial transportation (ATT) (11.1%), with motorcyclists (4.4%) and pedestrians (4.3%) being the most prominent. In women, these causes were changed to other accident causes (20.8%), ATT (10.6%) and homicides (7.9%). UEC changed to ATT (18.3%) in the age groups of 0-14 years old and to homicides (32.5%) in the age groups of 15-44 years. CONCLUSION: The project cities obtained better results after investigation of UEC, enabling analysis of the reclassification to specific causes by sex and age groups.

INTRODUÇÃO: Causas inespecíficas de mortalidade estão entre os indicadores tradicionais de qualidade da informação. OBJETIVO: Verificar o desempenho das 60 cidades do projeto Dados para a Saúde e analisar a reclassificação das causas externas inespecíficas de mortalidade (CEI). MÉTODOS: A partir de registros de 2017 do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade, comparou-se proporções e variações percentuais após investigação das CEI, entre cidades do projeto e demais cidades, e calculou-se percentual de reclassificação para causas específicas. RESULTADOS: As cidades do projeto concentraram 52% (n = 11.759) das CEI do Brasil, das quais 64,5% foram reclassificadas após investigação, enquanto as demais cidades reclassificaram 31%. Resultados foram semelhantes para homens, jovens, negros, cidades metropolitanas, região Sudeste, e em eventos atestados por institutos forenses. Nas cidades do projeto, acidentes de pedestres foram causas com maior reclassificação. Em homens, as CEI migraram para homicídios (23,8%) e acidentes de transporte terrestre (ATT) (11,1%), com destaque para motociclistas (4,4%) e pedestres (4,3%). Em mulheres, essas causas foram alteradas para outras causas acidentais (20,8%), ATT (10,6%) e homicídios (7,9%). CEI migraram para ATT (18,3%) no grupo de idade de 0 a 14 anos, e homicídios (32,5%) no grupo de 15 a 44 anos. CONCLUSÃO: As cidades do projeto obtiveram melhores resultados após investigação de CEI, possibilitando analisar a reclassificação para causas específicas, por sexo e faixas etárias.

Profile of deaths from unspecified stroke after investigation of garbage codes in 60 cities in Brazil, 2017. / Perfil dos óbitos por acidente vascular cerebral não especificado após investigação de códigos garbage em 60 cidades do Brasil, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Unspecified stroke (UnST) is of great importance in mortality statistics, as it is the fourth leading cause of death in Brazil. The objective of this study was to identify the profile of reclassified causes of death after investigation of deaths caused by UnST in Brazil. METHODS: All deaths registered as UnST in 2017 in the Mortality Information System (SIM) were considered as garbage codes. The specific causes, detected after investigation in 60 selected cities, were analyzed by age and sex. RESULTS: Of the total deaths due to UnST identified in these 60 cities (n = 11,289), 25.8% were investigated. Of these, 56.3% were reclassified to ischemic stroke, 12.7% to hemorrhagic stroke, and 23.3% to other specific causes, such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease, in both sexes. DISCUSSION: The higher proportion of deaths due to ischemic stroke in comparison to hemorrhagic stroke was expected. However, the detection of other specific causes outside the stroke group indicates possible quality problems in the filling of death certificate (DC). CONCLUSION: The investigations allowed the identification of subgroups of deaths due to stroke. In addition to the research, however, it is important to conduct physician training in the adequate filling in of the DC, in order to improve estimates of specific stroke mortality, and to enable appropriate targeting of health actions and services.

INTRODUÇÃO: O acidente vascular cerebral não especificado (AVC-NE) é de grande relevância nas estatísticas de mortalidade, sendo a quarta maior causa de morte no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar o perfil de causas reclassificadas após investigação de óbitos por AVC-NE no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados todos os óbitos registrados em 2017 no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM) como AVC-NE, considerados códigos garbage. As causas específicas, detectadas após investigação em 60 cidades selecionadas, foram analisadas segundo idade e sexo. RESULTADOS: Do total de óbitos por AVC-NE das 60 cidades (n = 11.289), foram investigados 25,8%, dos quais 56,3% foram reclassificados para AVC isquêmico, 12,7% para AVC hemorrágico, e 23,3% migraram para outras causas específicas, como diabetes e doença renal crônica, em ambos os sexos. DISCUSSÃO: A maior proporção de reclassificação dos óbitos por AVC-NE para AVC isquêmico em relação ao hemorrágico era esperada. No entanto, a detecção de outras causas específicas fora do grupo de AVC indica possíveis problemas de qualidade do preenchimento das causas na declaração de óbito (DO). CONCLUSÃO: As investigações realizadas permitiram identificação de subgrupos de AVC. Além da investigação, entretanto, é importante realizar capacitação com médicos para o preenchimento adequado da DO, a fim de melhorar as estimativas da mortalidade por AVC específico e possibilitar direcionamento adequado das ações e dos serviços de saúde.

Quality of data on causes of death in southern Brazil: the importance of garbage causes. / Qualidade dos dados de causas de morte no Sul do Brasil: a importância das causas garbage.

INTRODUCTION: The study objective was to analyze the quality of data on causes of death in southern Brazil. METHODS: Mortality Information System (SIM - Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade) data were used to evaluate the occurrence of Garbage Causes (GC) in death certificates (DCs) of residents of South states and their capitals between 2015 and 2016. The GC of each state were compared to the other states and grouped by severity level (N1 to N4, according to decreasing potential impact on mortality profile). We evaluated the N1 and N2 GC in the 0-74 years, in accordance with local of occurrence and attesting professional. RESULTS: The occurrence of GC ranged from 29 to 31% among the three states, below the national average (34%). The GC of levels N1 and N2 were similar between states and heterogeneous between capitals. Most deaths were in-hospital, between 55%-64% of N1 and N2 GC occurred in the states and 39%-55% in the capitals. As for home deaths, this number ranged between 25%-31% and 25%-40%, respectively. More than 30% of the attesting professionals (except in Florianópolis) were declared as "others" in the corresponding DC field. Physicians from the Forensic Medical Institute (IML) and Death Verification Service (SVO) attested 15 to 24% of N1 and N2 GC in the states and 33 to 66% in the state capitals. CONCLUSION: The improvement of mortality data should involve strategies aimed at hospital physicians, in accordance with the volume of deaths and the IML and SVO services in addition to support for the emission of home DC, due to the importance in generating more severe GC.

INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a qualidade dos dados sobre causas de morte na região Sul do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi utilizado o Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade para avaliar a ocorrência de causas garbage (CG) nas declarações de óbito (DO) de residentes nos estados e capitais da região Sul entre 2015 e 2016. As CG foram comparadas com os demais estados e agrupadas por nível de gravidade (N1 a N4, segundo potencial decrescente de impacto sobre o perfil de mortalidade). Foram avaliados os CG de N1 e N2 na faixa etária de 0 a 74 anos, segundo local de ocorrência e médico atestante. RESULTADOS: A ocorrência de CG geral variou de 29% a 31% entre os três estados, abaixo da média nacional (34%). As CG N1 e N2 foram semelhantes nos estados e heterogêneas nas capitais. A maioria dos óbitos foram hospitalares, onde ocorreram 55% a 64% das CG N1 e N2 nos estados e 39% a 55% nas capitais. Nos óbitos domiciliares, esta proporção variou de 25% a 31% e de 25% a 40%, respectivamente. Mais de 30% dos médicos atestantes (exceto em Florianópolis) não identificaram seu vínculo com o paciente, declarando-se como "outros" no campo correspondente da DO. Médicos de Instituto Médico Legal (IML) e Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos (SVO) atestaram 15% a 24% das CG N1 e N2 nos estados e 33% a 66% nas capitais. CONCLUSÃO: A qualificação dos dados de mortalidade deve envolver estratégias voltadas aos médicos de hospitais, pelo volume de óbitos e para os serviços de IML e SVO, e suporte para emissão das DO domiciliares, pela importância na geração de CG de maior gravidade.

Data for health: impact on improving the quality of cause-of-death information in Brazil. / Dados para a saúde: impacto na melhoria da qualidade da informação sobre causas de óbito no Brasil.

INTRODUCTION: Knowing the number of deaths and their causes is relevant information for public health managers. However, the cause of death is often classified with codes that are not useful for mortality analysis, called garbage codes (GC). OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate the impact of investigation of the underlying cause of poorly classified deaths on death certificates in 2017. METHODS: Based on a standardized protocol, GC deaths from 60 municipalities were investigated, mainly in hospital records and autopsy services. Managers at the state level of the Mortality Information System also developed procedures to improve the classification of causes of death, with the consequent adherence of other municipalities (n = 4022). This made it possible to compare the results of GC research between these two groups of municipalities. RESULTS: In the country, among the 108,826 GC investigated in 2017, 48% were reclassified to specific causes. In the 60 focus municipalities, 58% of the 35,366 investigated deaths from GC were reclassified. After the intervention, the proportion of deaths classified as GC decreased by 11% in the country and 17% in the municipalities. DISCUSSION: The research in hospital records enabled almost half of the deaths from GC investigated to be reclassified. This is the first study to investigate GC in hospital records of more than 100,000 deaths. The 60 cities targeted by the intervention had better results than the other cities. CONCLUSION: The intervention proved to be an appropriate initiative to improve the quality of information on cause of death and should be encouraged.

INTRODUÇÃO: Conhecer o número de óbitos e suas causas se constitui em informação de relevância para gestores de saúde pública. Entretanto, muitas vezes a causa do óbito é classificada com códigos pouco úteis para as análises de mortalidade, denominados códigos garbage (CG). OBJETIVO: Descrever e avaliar o impacto da investigação da causa básica de morte mal classificada no atestado de óbito em 2017. MÉTODOS: Com base em protocolo padronizado, foram pesquisadas mortes com CG de 60 municípios que foram foco da intervenção, principalmente em prontuários hospitalares e serviços de autopsia. No nível estadual de gestão do Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade também foram desenvolvidas ações para melhoria da classificação da causa do óbito, com consequente adesão da maioria dos demais municípios (n = 4.022), o que permitiu comparações com os resultados da investigação de CG nas 60 cidades. RESULTADOS: No país, de 108.826 CG investigadas em 2017, 48% foram reclassificadas para causas específicas. Já nos 60 municípios selecionados, 58% dos 35.366 óbitos por CG pesquisados foram reclassificados. A proporção de óbitos por CG declinou em 11% no país e 17% nos municípios em que houve intervenção. DISCUSSÃO: Este é o primeiro estudo que investigou CG em registros médicos de mais de 100 mil mortes. A pesquisa possibilitou reclassificar para causas básicas específicas cerca de metade dos óbitos por CG investigados. As 60 cidades que foram alvo da intervenção tiveram melhor resultado que as demais cidades. CONCLUSÃO: A intervenção mostrou ser uma iniciativa adequada para a melhoria da qualidade da informação sobre causa de morte e deve ser estimulada.

The impact of the investigation on deaths classified as garbage codes on the quality of the cause-of-death information in the Northeast region, Brazil. / Avaliação do impacto da investigação dos óbitos com códigos garbage na qualidade da informação sobre causas de morte no nordeste do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the impact of investigation of deaths classified as garbage codes (GC) on the quality of the causes-of-death information in municipalities in the Northeast region of Brazil in 2017. METHOD: an investigation was conducted on the deaths classified as GC in 18 municipalities in the Northeast region as follows: identification of deaths with priority GC; review of medical records from health services and forensic institutes; and evaluation of the reclassification of causes of death according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and groupings of the Global Burden of Disease 2015 (GBD 2015). RESULTS: among 18,681 deaths classified as priority GC, 7,352 (39%) were investigated and, of these, 5,160 (70%) had reclassified causes, of which 4,087 (79%) were changed to specified causes. Ill-defined causes (n = 4,392) were the most frequent among GC and those with a higher proportion of cause change (80%), and 57% were changed to specified causes. The reduction of GC contributed to the detection of a wide variety of specific causes according to groups of level 3 of the GBD 2015, being the interpersonal violence the cause that obtained the highest percentage change (11.8%). CONCLUSION: The investigation of deaths with priority GC proved to be an important strategy to specify causes of death, and it may influence the formulation, execution and evaluation of health policies.

OBJETIVO: avaliar o impacto da investigação dos óbitos classificados como causas garbage (CG) na qualidade da informação sobre causas de morte em municípios da região Nordeste do Brasil em 2017. MÉTODO: estudo avaliativo sobre a investigação dos óbitos com CG em 18 municípios do Nordeste, a partir do seguinte fluxo: identificação de óbitos com CG prioritárias; investigação em prontuários e nos laudos dos institutos de medicina legal; e avaliação da requalificação e especificação das causas de morte de acordo com a Código Internacional de Doenças e segundo grupos de causas do estudo Global Burden of Disease 2015 (GBD 2015). RESULTADOS: dentre 18.681 óbitos classificados como CG prioritárias, 7.352 (39%) foram investigados e, destes, 5.160 (70%) tiveram causas reclassificadas, das quais 4.087 (79%) para causas especificadas. As causas mal definidas (n = 4.392) foram as mais frequentes dentre as CG e as que apresentaram maior proporção de mudança de causa (80%), e 57% alteraram para causas especificadas. A redução das CG contribuiu para detecção de grande variedade de causas específicas segundo grupos do nível 3 do GBD 2015, sendo a violência interpessoal a que obteve maior mudança percentual (11,8%). CONCLUSÃO: a investigação dos óbitos com CG prioritárias revelou-se importante estratégia para especificação das causas básicas de morte, podendo influenciar diretamente na formulação, execução e avaliação das políticas de saúde.