Social inequality in mortality in São Paulo State, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated social inequality to be an important factor in the distribution of illness and death in society. However, little work has been published on social differentials in mortality in the world's developing countries, where socioeconomic contrasts are often considerably greater. METHODS: In order to evaluate the extent of social differentials in mortality in a setting of major social inequality -- the State of São Paulo, Brazil, deaths in men aged 15-64 years residing in São Paulo from 1980 to 1982 were linked in broad, occupationally-determined categories to estimates of population size based on the 1980 Brazilian national census. The occupational categorizations utilized a Brazilian classification scheme and additionally that of the British Registrar General. RESULTS: Mortality was 3.8 and 2.9 times greater comparing least to most socially favoured occupational category in each of the two classification systems, respectively. Independent of system, mortality decreased approximately 1.1% for each 1% increase along the occupationally-defined social gradient. This decrease was 48% greater than the equivalent calculated decrease for men of England and Wales. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the contention that mortality for Brazilian adults, even more so than for adults of the world's more economically developed nations, is inextricably bound to the issue of social equity.

[Myocardial infarct and cerebral vascular disorders associated with high temperature and carbon monoxide in a metropolitan area of southeastern Brazil]. / Infarto do miocárdio e acidente vascular cerebral associados à alta temperatura e monóxido de carbono em área metropolitana do sudeste do Brasil.

Many studies have been published about the relationship between life style and genetic risk factors and stroke and heart attack, but there have been few about the relationship between atmospheric pollution, specifically with carbon monoxide, and temperature and stroke and heart attack. With a view to filling this gap the relationship between values of carbon monoxide concentration in the air, maximum and average by day, and maximum temperature by day and the number of new cases of CVA and IM admitted as emergencies at the biggest hospital complex of S. Paulo city was analysed. If was concluded, by the use of multivariable regression analysis, that 2.1% and 4.9% of heart attack admissions were due to carbon monoxide air pollution and high temperature, respectively. 2.8% of stroke admissions were due high temperature. Stroke and carbon monoxide were not associated in this population.

[Sick building syndrome in bank employees]. / Síndrome dos edifícios doentes em bancários.

This study seeks, for the first time, to identify the sick building syndrome in Brazil. The study population consisted of 312 bank-clerks distributed in two closed buildings situated in S. Paulo city, Brazil. Data were collected by questionnaire, the design was cross-sectional and analysis made by logistic regression. Female, job satisfaction and inappropriate temperature were related to general symptoms. Female and inappropriate temperature were related to mucus membrane symptoms. Job satisfaction was related to absenteeism.

[Accuracy of risk indicators of the Infant Life Defense Program in a region of the São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Acurácia dos indicadores de risco do Programa de Defesa da Vida dos Lactentes em região do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

The Infant Life Defense Program of Health Department of Bauru City SP, Brazil, has diagnostic criteria for the inclusion of newborns. The diagnostic criteria combine eleven social and clinical indices of infant mortality risk, defined by in the light of a review of the literature and previous case studies. The indices are easily collected at the hospitals during delivery. The objective of this study is to propose an alternative diagnostic criteria, using the same social and clinical indices, of greater sensitivity and same proportion of children included in the program. The data on the newborns were collected between May 11, 1986 and November 10, 1987. The mortality period was defined as between 7 days and 6 months, which was the follow-up period for the infants enrolled in the program. The method of analysis was the determination for each index of the crude relative risk in a univariate analysis and the adjusted relative risk using the logistic regression procedure. A score system was constructed on the basis of the sum of the excess risk of each index.

[Epidemiology of "sick buildings"]. / A epidemiologia dos "edifícios doentes".

The indoor environment of modern buildings, especially those designed for commercial and administrative purposes, constitutes a unique ecological niche with its own biochemical environment, fauna and flora. Sophisticated construction methods and the new materials and machinery required to maintain the indoor environment of these enclosed structures produce a large number of chemical by-products and permit the growth of many different microorganisms. Because modern office buildings are sealed, the regulation of humidification and temperature of ducted air presents a dilemma, since difference species of microorganisms flourish at different combinations of humidity and temperature. If the indoor environment of modern office buildings is not properly maintained, the environment may become harmful to its occupants' health. Such buildings are classified as "Sick Buildings". A review of the epidemiology of building illness is presented. The etiology of occupant illnesses, sources of toxic substances, and possible methods of maintaining a safe indoor environment are described.