[Mortality trends due to myocardial ischemia in capital cities of the metropolitan areas of Brazil, 1979-89]. / Tendência da mortalidade por doença isquêmica do coração nas capitais de regiões metropolitanas do Brasil, 1979-89.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To study the trends of mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in eight capitals of Brazil. METHODS: Death rates for these cities were studied in men (M) and female (F), standardized using the population of São Paulo, SP, 1980. Rates were calculated for CVD (ICD-9 390-459) and CHD (ICD-9410-414). The cities were Belém, Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Curitiba and Porto Alegre. Using simple linear regression, we obtained the annual difference in rates with a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: For CVD a decline was detected of -2.6% (M) and -2.69% (F) in Belém; in Salvador, -1.53% (M) and -1.70% (F) and in São Paulo, -1.27% (M) and -1% (F) and for F in Belo Horizonte (-0.82%) and in Curitiba (-1.52%). Recife, Porto Alegre and Curitiba (M) showed stability during the period. There was a rise of the rates in Rio de Janeiro +1.37% (M) and +0.84% (F) and for M in Belo Hozironte (1%). The rates for CHD showed a decline in Belém-2.64% (M) and -2.74% (F); São Paulo, -1.4% (M) and -1.06% (F) and for F in Belo Horizonte. A stable trend was detected in Salvador, Curitiba, Porto Alegre and for M in Belo Horizonte. There was a rise in the rates of Recife +3.5% (M) and +4.4% (F) and in Rio de Janeiro +2.34% (M) and +2.53% (F). CONCLUSION: The magnitude of death rates and of the time trends showed in this paper reveal important regional differences. Questions related to the different assignment of diagnosis in the chapter of CVD could explain some of the observed trends. However, the rise of mortality rates in Rio de Janeiro could hardly be explained by classificatory matters. Tobacco, diet and medical care could explain the rise of mortality from CVD and CHD in Rio de Janeiro.