Abstract

Analysis of the mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) can provide subsidies for preventive and control measures. The goal of this article is to compare CVD mortality rates in São Caetano do Sul, the state of São Paulo and the country as a whole. Standardized mortality and mortality due to CVD were calculated for the 1980-2010 period. We found a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality in all three study units during this period, with the largest reduction in CVD in São Caetano do Sul. The largest mortality rate was found in the state of São Paulo. In adults 30 to 59, the CVD mortality rate in São Caetano do Sul was three times as high in men as in women, yet among adults 60 and older, CVD mortality was higher in women than in men. The lower rate is the result of implementing different healthcare policies. However, specific interventions are required that focus on changes in lifestyle, especially among adult men and the elderly.

Key words
Cardiovascular disease; Mortality; Mortality rate; Epidemiology

Introduction

Political, economic and social transformations in Brazil and the world have resulted in complex demographic, epidemiologic and nutritional transition processes¹1. Lima-Costa MF, Peixoto SV, Giatti L. Tendências da mortalidade entre idosos brasileiros (1980 – 2000). Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 2004; 13(4):217-228.. These in turn have had a major impact on life expectancy. The nation has gone from high levels of infant mortality and a predominance of infectious and parasitic diseases, to higher mortality rates among those more advanced in age due to chronic, non-transmissible diseases and external causes²2. Duarte EC, Barreto SM. Transição demográfica e epidemiológica: a Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde revisita e atualiza o tema. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 2012; 21(4):529-532.. In the last 60 years of the 20^th century, mortality due to all causes in Brazil dropped due to public health measures and preventive medicine techniques that, added to economic development, resulted in lower infant mortality and longer life-expectancy³3. Lolio CA, Souza JMP, Laurenti R. Decline in cardiovascular disease mortality in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, 1970 to 1983. Rev Saude Publica 1986; 20(6):454-464.

4. Oliveira GMM, Klein CH, Nelson ASS. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares em três estados do Brasil de 1980 a 2002. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2006; 19(2):85-93.

5. Godoy MF, Lucena JM, Miquelin AR, Paiva FF, Oliveira DLQ, Augustin Junior JL, Chiaravalloti Neto F. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares e níveis socioeconômicos na população de São José do Rio Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2007; 88(2):200-206.

6. Muller EV, Aranha SRR, Roza WSS, Gimeno SGA. Distribuição espacial da mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares no estado do Paraná, Brasil: 1989-1991 e 2006-2008. Cad Saude Publica 2012; 28(6):1067-1077.^-77. Soares GP, Klein CH, Silva NASS, Oliveira GMM. Evolution of cardiovascular diseases mortality in the counties of the State of Rio de Janeiro from 1979 to 2010. Arq Bras Cardiol 2015; 104(5):356-365..

The number of people over the age of 60 in our country increased 33.65% between 2000 and 2009, the result being that now chronic non-transmissible diseases (CNTD) predominate, in particular cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the main cause of death for both genders⁸8. Garritano CR, Luz PM, Pires MLE, Barbosa MTS, Batista KM. Análise da tendência da mortalidade por acidente vascular cerebral no Brasil no século XXI. Arq Bras Cardiol 2012; 98(6):519-527.^,99. Mansur AP, Lopes AIA, Favarato D, Avakian SD, César LAM, Ramires JAF. Transição epidemiológica da mortalidade por doenças circulatórias no Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2009; 93(5):506-510.. Although the population in general is increasing and living longer, different studies report declining mortality due to CVD as the result of changes in lifestyle, improved technology for disease prevention and treatment, and the implementation of a range of public health policies⁸8. Garritano CR, Luz PM, Pires MLE, Barbosa MTS, Batista KM. Análise da tendência da mortalidade por acidente vascular cerebral no Brasil no século XXI. Arq Bras Cardiol 2012; 98(6):519-527.

9. Mansur AP, Lopes AIA, Favarato D, Avakian SD, César LAM, Ramires JAF. Transição epidemiológica da mortalidade por doenças circulatórias no Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2009; 93(5):506-510.

10. Mansur AP, Favarato D. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares no Brasil e na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo: Atualização 2011. Arq Bras Cardiol 2012; 99(2):775-761.

11. Cesse EAP, Carvalho EF, Souza WV, Luna CF. Tendência da mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório no Brasil: 1950 a 2000. Arq Bras Cardiol 2009; 93(5):490-497.^-1212. Yang Y. Princípios da epidemiologia aplicados no estudo do uso de medicamentos. In: Yang Y, Strum DW, organizadores. Compreendendo a farmacoepidemiologia. Rio de Janeiro: Mc-Graw-Hill; 2013. p. 17-38.. According to Lima Costa et al.¹1. Lima-Costa MF, Peixoto SV, Giatti L. Tendências da mortalidade entre idosos brasileiros (1980 – 2000). Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 2004; 13(4):217-228., between 1996 and 2000, deaths due to cerebrovascular and ischemic heart diseases experienced the sharpest drops. Mathias et al.¹³13. Mathias TAF, Jorge MHPM, Laurenti R. Doenças cardiovasculares na população idosa: análise do comportamento da mortalidade em município da região Sul do Brasil no período de 1979 a 1998. Arq Bras Cardiol 2004; 82(6):533-541. also found a proportional decrease in mortality due to CVD and ischemic heart disease, despite an increase in the incidence of high blood pressure.

The city of São Caetano do Sul is located in the state of São Paulo. It has 149,263 inhabitants living in a total of 15.3 sq. km¹⁴14. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Cidades@. São Paulo. São Caetano do Sul. [acessado 2015 mar 20]. Disponível em: http://www.ibge.com.br/cidadesat/xtras/perfil.php?codmun=354880&search=sao-paulo|sao-caetano-do-sul
http://www.ibge.com.br/cidadesat/xtras/p... . It has the best UN Human Development Index (HDI) in Brazil (0.862)¹⁵15. Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento. Nosso trabalho. [acessado 2015 mar 20]. Disponível em: http://www.pnud.org.br/atlas/ranking/Ranking-IDHM-Municipios-2010.aspx
http://www.pnud.org.br/atlas/ranking/Ran... , and is currently ranked #3 in the municipal development index¹⁶16. Federação das Indústrias do Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN). Índice FIRJAN de Desenvolvimento Municipal. [acessado 2015 mar 20]. Disponível em http://www.firjan.org.br/ifdm/consulta-ao-indice/ifdm-indice-firjan-de-desenvolvimento-municipal-resultado.htm?UF=SP&IdCidade=354880&Indicador=1&Ano=2011.
http://www.firjan.org.br/ifdm/consulta-a... published by FIRJAN, the State of Rio de Janeiro Federation of Industries. It has the 8^th largest per capita GDP of the state of São Paulo¹⁶16. Federação das Indústrias do Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN). Índice FIRJAN de Desenvolvimento Municipal. [acessado 2015 mar 20]. Disponível em http://www.firjan.org.br/ifdm/consulta-ao-indice/ifdm-indice-firjan-de-desenvolvimento-municipal-resultado.htm?UF=SP&IdCidade=354880&Indicador=1&Ano=2011.
http://www.firjan.org.br/ifdm/consulta-a... . 19.1% of the city's population is 60 or older¹⁴14. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Cidades@. São Paulo. São Caetano do Sul. [acessado 2015 mar 20]. Disponível em: http://www.ibge.com.br/cidadesat/xtras/perfil.php?codmun=354880&search=sao-paulo|sao-caetano-do-sul
http://www.ibge.com.br/cidadesat/xtras/p... . Thus, understanding the health characteristics of the population living in a city with a high HDI by analyzing CVD mortality can provide subsidy for prevention and control measures.

The goal of this study was to compare CVD mortality by gender and age in the city of São Caetano do Sul with that of the rest of the state and the country, in the period between 1980 and 2010.

Methods

This is a trend study on CVD mortality. The analysis unit was the population residing in São Caetano do Sul (149,263 inhabitants), in the state of São Paulo (43,663,672 inhabitants) and Brazil (201,032,714 inhabitants)¹⁴14. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Cidades@. São Paulo. São Caetano do Sul. [acessado 2015 mar 20]. Disponível em: http://www.ibge.com.br/cidadesat/xtras/perfil.php?codmun=354880&search=sao-paulo|sao-caetano-do-sul
http://www.ibge.com.br/cidadesat/xtras/p... .

This study used the basic causes of death due to circulatory disease between 1980 and 2010; death records were obtained from DATASUS (the Unified Healthcare System Database), and population data provided by the IBGE (the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). These analyses excluded all cases lacking data on the study variables. The variables analyzed in this study were age, gender and basic cause of death according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Between 1980 and 1985, ICD-9 was used, where death due to circulatory diseases fell into Chapter VII, codes 390 – 459. Since 1996 ICD-10 has been used, which classifies CVD deaths as I00 to I99 (Chapter IV).

To quantify mortality and make comparisons, certified CVD deaths in Brazil, the state of São Paulo and the city of São Caetano do Sul were offset by part of the deaths due to poorly defined causes by age and gender in the study period. This was done in the same proportion as CVD deaths excluding poorly defined causes. For standardization adjustments, and to arrive at standardized mortality rates we used the formula Xc = X + M * X/(T – M), where X is the number of CVD deaths, M the number of deaths due to poorly defined causes, and T the number of deaths for all causes. This resulted in standardized rates for death due to CVD (Xc)¹⁷17. Victora CG, Aquino EML, Carmo Leal M, Monteiro CA, Barros FC, Szwarcwald CL. Maternal and child health in Brazil: progress and challenges. Lancet 2011; 377(9780):1863-1876.. We also estimated the annual means and differences in standard mortality rates using linear regression models. To analyze statistically significant differences we used the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test for the mortality variable adjusted using the Bonferroni Correction to identify differing regions when compared peer to peer. This test was also applied to check for possible differences between genders for the mortality variable. To look at the trend of death due to CVD we used a simple linear regression model using the adjusted mortality rate as the dependent variable, and the year of death as the independent variable. The independent regression coefficient (β) is the mean annual increase in mortality rate. To check if the assumption is reasonable the coefficient of determination (R²)¹⁸18. Wűnsch Filho V, Moncau JE. Mortalidade por câncer no Brasil 1980-1995: padrões regionais e tendências temporais. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2002; 48(3):250-257. was calculated. For statistical analyses we used SPSS (v.14; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL USA).

Results

By comparing deaths due to CVD in 2010 (Table 1), we found that the state of São Paulo had the highest standardized mortality among people aged 30 or over, followed by Brazil and the city of São Caetano do Sul. However, SCS has the lowest mortality rate for all ages. Comparing mortality rates by age and gender in São Caetano do Sul shows that in the 30 to 59 age bracket, men had a higher mortality rate than women, whereas among adults over 60, the mortality rate was higher among women than men. When analyzed in proportion, people aged 60 and over the city of São Caetano do Sul had the highest proportional mortality compared to other analysis units.

Table 2 shows the mean mortality rates in the three analysis units between 1980 and 2010. These vary quite significantly. For this reason, it is fair to say that mean CVD mortality in Brazil is lower than it is in the state of São Paulo, which has a lower rate than São Caetano do Sul. It is also fair to say that the rate is statistically similar for both genders, but with is a trend towards lower CVD mortality among women than men.

CVD mortality rates (Figure 1) have been coming down in Brazil −0.18 (95% CI: −0.21 to −0.15), in the state of São Paulo −0.15 (95% CI – 0.16 to 0.14), and especially in São Caetano do Sul −0.15 (95% CI – 0.16 to – 0.14), which at the end of the period was lower than the other units analyzed.

In a gender comparison, in the city of São Caetano do Sul mortality due to CVD (Figure 2) is declining among men −0.09 (95% CI −0.11 to −0.08), and especially among women −0.09 (95% CI −0.10 to −0.07)

Discussion

As the population ages due to the demographic transition underway, especially in the Southeast of the country, the incidence of CVD is not homogeneous across the nation. Although some studies show a decrease in CVD deaths¹1. Lima-Costa MF, Peixoto SV, Giatti L. Tendências da mortalidade entre idosos brasileiros (1980 – 2000). Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 2004; 13(4):217-228.^,33. Lolio CA, Souza JMP, Laurenti R. Decline in cardiovascular disease mortality in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, 1970 to 1983. Rev Saude Publica 1986; 20(6):454-464.

4. Oliveira GMM, Klein CH, Nelson ASS. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares em três estados do Brasil de 1980 a 2002. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2006; 19(2):85-93.

5. Godoy MF, Lucena JM, Miquelin AR, Paiva FF, Oliveira DLQ, Augustin Junior JL, Chiaravalloti Neto F. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares e níveis socioeconômicos na população de São José do Rio Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2007; 88(2):200-206.

6. Muller EV, Aranha SRR, Roza WSS, Gimeno SGA. Distribuição espacial da mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares no estado do Paraná, Brasil: 1989-1991 e 2006-2008. Cad Saude Publica 2012; 28(6):1067-1077.

7. Soares GP, Klein CH, Silva NASS, Oliveira GMM. Evolution of cardiovascular diseases mortality in the counties of the State of Rio de Janeiro from 1979 to 2010. Arq Bras Cardiol 2015; 104(5):356-365.^-88. Garritano CR, Luz PM, Pires MLE, Barbosa MTS, Batista KM. Análise da tendência da mortalidade por acidente vascular cerebral no Brasil no século XXI. Arq Bras Cardiol 2012; 98(6):519-527.^,1111. Cesse EAP, Carvalho EF, Souza WV, Luna CF. Tendência da mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório no Brasil: 1950 a 2000. Arq Bras Cardiol 2009; 93(5):490-497.^,1919. Mansur AP, Souza MFM, Timerman A, Avakian SD, Aldrighi JM, Ramires JAF. Tendência do risco de morte por doenças circulatórias, cerebrovasculares e isquêmicas do coração em treze estados do Brasil, de 1980 a 1998. Arq Bras Cardiol 2006; 87(5):641-648.

20. Sabino W, Regidor E, Otero Á. Evolución desigual de las causas de muerte en las regiones de Brasil. Gac Sanit 2007; 21(6):480-484.^-2121. Rosa MLG, Giro C, Alves TO, Moura EC, Lacerda LS, SantAnna LP, Macedo RA, Leal SB, Garcia KS, Mesquita ET. Análise da mortalidade e das internações por doenças cardiovasculares em Niterói, entre 1998 e 2007. Arq Bras Cardiol 2011; 96(6):477-83., possibly due to accelerated economic development, bringing with it better living conditions and less exposure to infections during the perinatal period⁴4. Oliveira GMM, Klein CH, Nelson ASS. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares em três estados do Brasil de 1980 a 2002. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2006; 19(2):85-93., such deaths may present themselves in a non-homogeneous manner within the population groups of a given country, as mentioned by Frank et al.²²22. Frenk J, Frejka T, Bobadilla JL, Stern C, Lozano R, Sepúlveda J, José M. La transición epidemiológica en América Latina. Bol Ofic Sanit Panam 1991; 111(6):485-496.. Reinforcing these findings, Mansur et al.¹⁹19. Mansur AP, Souza MFM, Timerman A, Avakian SD, Aldrighi JM, Ramires JAF. Tendência do risco de morte por doenças circulatórias, cerebrovasculares e isquêmicas do coração em treze estados do Brasil, de 1980 a 1998. Arq Bras Cardiol 2006; 87(5):641-648. found an increase in the risk of death due to these diseases in the less developed states of the country, which agrees with the study by Farias et al.²³23. Farias N, Souza JMP, Laurenti R, Alencar SM. Mortalidade cardiovascular por sexo e faixa etária em São Paulo, Brasil: 1996 a 1998 e 2003 a 2005. Arq Bras Cardiol 2009; 93(5):498-505., which suggests that despite a decrease in recent years, these deaths may show different patterns in the different socioeconomic groups.

In comparing the cause of death in the city of São Caetano do Sul, the state of São Paulo and Brazil, this study found significantly different mortality rates, with the state of São Paulo having the highest mortality rates. It is likely that this difference is related to the HDI for the city of São Caetano do Sul compared to the rest of the country. In other words, [one would expect] longer life expectancy but higher rates of CVD mortality. However, the results of this study in São Caetano do Sul seem not to follow this rule, as of the three units analyzed, it had the highest HDI and the lowest mortality due to CVD, even in age groups where death due to CVD is considered premature death. Ishitani et al.²⁴24. Ishitani LH, Franco GC, Perpétuo IHO, França E. Desigualdade social e mortalidade precoce por doenças cardiovasculares no Brasil. Rev Saude Publica 2006; 40(4):684-691. and Godoy et al.⁵5. Godoy MF, Lucena JM, Miquelin AR, Paiva FF, Oliveira DLQ, Augustin Junior JL, Chiaravalloti Neto F. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares e níveis socioeconômicos na população de São José do Rio Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2007; 88(2):200-206. showed a negative association between CVD mortality in Brazil and the socioeconomic situation (income, years of schooling and housing), in particular schooling. On the other hand, Muller et al.⁶6. Muller EV, Aranha SRR, Roza WSS, Gimeno SGA. Distribuição espacial da mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares no estado do Paraná, Brasil: 1989-1991 e 2006-2008. Cad Saude Publica 2012; 28(6):1067-1077. found no relationship between unfavorable socioeconomic conditions and CVD mortality in the state of Paraná, possibly due to the heterogeneous socioeconomic profile of each macro-region. In Rio de Janeiro, we found an inverse linear relationship between mortality due to cerebrovascular disease and the HDI. For each 0.05 point reduction in HDI, the risk of death due to cerebrovascular causes increased 65% (95% CI: 1.63 – 1.66). The risk due to cerebrovascular disease was 10 times larger in the regions with lower HDI (Campo Grande and Santa Cruz: HDI = 0.74) that in the region with the highest HDI (Gavea: HDI = 0.97)²⁵25. Fonseca RHA. Análise espacial da mortalidade por doenças cerebrovasculares no município do Rio de Janeiro, 2002 a 2007. Correlação com dados demográficos e socioeconômicos [tese]. Rio de Janeiro: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; 2012.. According to Kaplan and Keil²⁶26. Kaplan GA, Keil JE. Socioeconomic factors and cardiovascular disease: a review of the literature. Circulation 1993; 88(4 Pt 1):1973-1998., higher income means easier access to better goods and services, including quality education and healthcare. Studies show that inequality in education is the more harmful as it has a direct effect on adopting healthy lifestyles, which minimize the effects of the risks for cardiovascular disease⁵5. Godoy MF, Lucena JM, Miquelin AR, Paiva FF, Oliveira DLQ, Augustin Junior JL, Chiaravalloti Neto F. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares e níveis socioeconômicos na população de São José do Rio Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2007; 88(2):200-206.^,2727. Bloch K. Fatores de risco cardiovasculares e para o diabetes mellitus. In: Lessa I, organizador. O adulto brasileiro e as doenças da modernidade Epidemiologia das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. São Paulo: Hucitec; 1998. p. 43-72.

28. Bassanesi SL, Azambuja MI, Achutti A. Mortalidade precoce por doenças cardiovasculares e desigualdades sociais em Porto Alegre: da evidência à ação. Arq Bras Cardiol 2008; 90(6):403-412.^-2929. Santos JP, Paes NA. Association between life conditions and vulnerability with mortality from cardiovascular diseases in elderly men of Northeast Brazil. Rev Bras Epidemiol 2014; 17(2):407-420.. Factors increasing the risk of CVD, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco use and a sedentary lifestyle are more frequent among those with less schooling³⁰30. Lessa I, Araújo MJ, Magalhães L, Almeida Filho N, Aquino E, Costa MCR. Simultaneidade de fatores de risco cardiovascular modificáveis na população adulta de Salvador (BA), Brasil. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2004; 16(2):131-137.^,3131. Freitas OC, Carvalho FR, Neves JM, Veludo PK, Parreira RS, Gonçalves RM, Arenales de Lima S, Bulgarelli Bestetti R. Prevalence of hypertension in the urban population of Catanduva, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2001; 77(1):16-21.. The simultaneous existence of two or more of these factors has also been found in people with fewer years of schooling³⁰30. Lessa I, Araújo MJ, Magalhães L, Almeida Filho N, Aquino E, Costa MCR. Simultaneidade de fatores de risco cardiovascular modificáveis na população adulta de Salvador (BA), Brasil. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2004; 16(2):131-137.. Cerebrovascular and ischemic heart diseases remain the leading causes of death, but are declining as cardiovascular risk factors are controlled, socioeconomic conditions improve and new medical technology procedures advance, especially in the more developed areas of the country³²32. Simões CCS. Perfis de saúde e de mortalidade no Brasil: uma análise de seus condicionantes em grupos populacionais específicos. Brasília: OPAS; 2002..

The lower mortality rate found in the city of São Caetano do Sul, possibly the result of an interaction between biological, social and behavioral factors, make this city a natural object for further and deeper studies, especially in terms of group health. However, if we analyze the results for São Caetano do Sul by gender, we find that the calculated significance value of 0.057 shows a “strong tendency” to different CVD mortality rates (Table 2) for men and women, however we stress that this is merely a “tendency”. A “strong tendency to find a difference” is indicated by the calculated significance (the value of p) between 0.050 (5%) and 0.100 (10%). On the other hand, in the 30 to 59 age group, [CVD] mortality was three times larger in men than in women, yet among those 60 and over [CVD] mortality is higher in women than in men, a fact also found by Lima-Costa et al.¹1. Lima-Costa MF, Peixoto SV, Giatti L. Tendências da mortalidade entre idosos brasileiros (1980 – 2000). Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 2004; 13(4):217-228.. Previous studies have shown that men are more subject to risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, and more often exposed to occupational hazards. They also tend to resort to healthcare services less often than women. Men and women seek healthcare services for different reasons. Women use them as a preventive measure, and thus the likelihood that the disease will be followed is higher. Men tend to use healthcare services more in emergencies, and are hospitalized more frequently³³33. Kanso S, Romero DE, Leite IC, Marques A. A evitabilidade de óbitos entre idosos em São Paulo, Brasil: análise das principais causas de morte. Cad Saude Publica 2013; 29(4):735-748.. Chor et al.³⁴34. Chor D, Fonseca MJM, Andrade CR. Doenças cardiovasculares: comentários sobre a mortalidade precoce no Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 1995; 64(1):15-19. found that, among adults aged 35 to 44, the risk of dying from acute myocardial infarction in Brazilian state capitals was three times higher than it is in the United States for men, and about four times higher for women. Regarding the risk of death due to cerebrovascular disease in Brazil and the US, men aged 35 to 44 were five times more likely to die, and women six times more likely. Lotufo³⁵35. Lotufo PA. Mortalidade precoce por doenças do coração no Brasil. Comparação com outros países. Arq Bras Cardiol 1998; 70(5):321-325. compared mortality due to cardiac and coronary artery disease in adults 45 to 64 in 8 Brazilian state capitals (Belém, Recife, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Rio de January, São Paulo, Curitiba and Porto Alegre) and in other countries between 1984 and 1987. He found that death due to coronary disease in Brazilian cities is as high, or even higher, than in the US and Europe, especially among women. According to the author, even though male mortality is present in Brazil, compared to other countries, the chance of a Brazilian woman dying of coronary disease is larger than of a Brazilian man of the same age. In part, these results can be explained by factors such as the increased lethality of coronary disease in women, the absence of a medical culture that values cardiac symptoms in this gender, increased tobacco use and less care during menopause.

Cesse et al.¹¹11. Cesse EAP, Carvalho EF, Souza WV, Luna CF. Tendência da mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório no Brasil: 1950 a 2000. Arq Bras Cardiol 2009; 93(5):490-497. found a reduction in mortality due to circulatory system diseases in Brazil between 1950 and 2000, and that the pattern of reduction differed among the various state capitals. According to the authors, the highest risks and the biggest decreases since the start of the study period were found in Fortaleza, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, possibly due to significant urban development and industrialization in the first half of the 20^th Century, influencing the emergence of circulatory diseases earlier in life. In state capitals such as Manaus, Belém and Vitória, and the state capitals of the Northeast, South and Middle-West, where urbanization and industrialization really only took off in the second half of the century, an increase in the risk of death due to circulatory disease also increased only after 1950.

Lower CVD mortality has been found in several countries in the developed world¹²12. Yang Y. Princípios da epidemiologia aplicados no estudo do uso de medicamentos. In: Yang Y, Strum DW, organizadores. Compreendendo a farmacoepidemiologia. Rio de Janeiro: Mc-Graw-Hill; 2013. p. 17-38. due to changes in lifestyle and improved disease prevention and treatment technology. According to Lima Costa et al.¹1. Lima-Costa MF, Peixoto SV, Giatti L. Tendências da mortalidade entre idosos brasileiros (1980 – 2000). Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 2004; 13(4):217-228., between 1996 and 2000, cerebrovascular and ischemic heart diseases showed the sharpest drops in the cause of mortality in Brazil, in particular among women⁶6. Muller EV, Aranha SRR, Roza WSS, Gimeno SGA. Distribuição espacial da mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares no estado do Paraná, Brasil: 1989-1991 e 2006-2008. Cad Saude Publica 2012; 28(6):1067-1077.^,88. Garritano CR, Luz PM, Pires MLE, Barbosa MTS, Batista KM. Análise da tendência da mortalidade por acidente vascular cerebral no Brasil no século XXI. Arq Bras Cardiol 2012; 98(6):519-527.. Mathias et al.¹³13. Mathias TAF, Jorge MHPM, Laurenti R. Doenças cardiovasculares na população idosa: análise do comportamento da mortalidade em município da região Sul do Brasil no período de 1979 a 1998. Arq Bras Cardiol 2004; 82(6):533-541. also found a proportional decrease in mortality due to CVD and ischemic heart disease, despite an increase in the incidence of hypertension. Mansur and Faverato¹⁰10. Mansur AP, Favarato D. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares no Brasil e na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo: Atualização 2011. Arq Bras Cardiol 2012; 99(2):775-761. also noted a reduction in death due to ischemic heart and cerebrovascular disease in Brazil and in metropolitan São Paulo. In fact, Brazil is focusing more on chronic non-transmissible diseases. Public policies have expanded the traditional scope of medical care to include prevention, health promotion and inter-sectoral activities, among which we would mention the National Plan to Reorganize Attention to Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus, the Stop Smoking Program, easier access to immediate care units (UPA), programs to distribute drugs for chronic diseases, such as Farmácia Popular, expanded support to Family Health Strategy teams by other healthcare professionals such as nutritionist, Physical Education teachers, psychologists and psychiatrists. Other possible causes that may have contributed to this outcome are the use of anti-hypertensive, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic drugs, the increased use of polyunsaturated fats, less ingestion of cholesterol and a decline in smoking⁵5. Godoy MF, Lucena JM, Miquelin AR, Paiva FF, Oliveira DLQ, Augustin Junior JL, Chiaravalloti Neto F. Mortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares e níveis socioeconômicos na população de São José do Rio Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Arq Bras Cardiol 2007; 88(2):200-206.. According to a study performed by Unal et al.³⁶36. Unal B, Critchley JA, Capewell S. Explaining the decline in coronary heart disease mortality in England and Wales between 1981 and 2000. Circulation 2004; 109:1101-1107., over half of the CVD deaths in the UK between 1981 and 2000 was due to a reduction in risk factors, especially smoking.

This study, based on secondary studies, has limitations resulting from problems registering CVD deaths, and may underestimate CVD mortality rates in the state of São Paulo and especially in Brazil.

This study shows that, over the past 30 years, CVD mortality in the city of São Caetano do Sul has gone down faster than it has in the rest of the state and the country, especially among women. However, rates are still high for women over 60 and men between the ages of 30 and 59. The lower rate is the result of implementing different healthcare policies. However, specific interventions are required that focus on changes in lifestyle, especially among adult men and the elderly.

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