Trends in Mortality Rate from Cardiovascular Disease in Brazil, 1980-2012

BACKGROUND: Studies have questioned the downward trend in mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Brazil in recent years. OBJECTIVE: to analyze recent trends in mortality from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke in the Brazilian population. METHODS: Mortality and population data were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Ministry of Health. Risk of death was adjusted by the direct method, using as reference the world population of 2000. We analyzed trends in mortality from CVD, IHD and stroke in women and men in the periods of 1980-2006 and 2007-2012. RESULTS: there was a decrease in CVD mortality and stroke in women and men for both periods (p < 0.001). Annual mortality variations for periods 1980-2006 and 2007-2012 were, respectively: CVD (total): -1.5% and -0.8%; CVD men: -1.4% and -0.6%; CVD women: -1.7% and -1.0%; DIC (men): -1.1% and 0.1%; stroke (men): -1.7% and -1.4%; DIC (women): -1.5% and 0.4%; stroke (women): -2.0% and -1.9%. From 1980 to 2006, there was a decrease in IHD mortality in men and women (p < 0.001), but from 2007 to 2012, changes in IHD mortality were not significant in men [y = 151 + 0.04 (R(2) = 0.02; p = 0.779)] and women [y = 88-0.54 (R(2) = 0.24; p = 0.320). CONCLUSION: Trend in mortality from IHD stopped falling in Brazil from 2007 to 2012.