Abstract

LIMA-COSTA, Maria Fernanda; PEIXOTO, Sérgio Viana  and  GIATTI, Luana. Trends in mortality among older adults in Brazil (1980 - 2000). Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2004, vol.13, n.4, pp.217-228. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742004000400004.

The mortality among older adults in Brazil from 1980 to 2000 was examined. During the study period, there was an important decrease in all causes of mortality, mainly among women and among oldest old. A significant decrease of the mortality due to cardiovascular diseases was observed, but the mortality due to cancers and respiratory diseases incresead in this period. There was an excess of mortality without medical assistance among older adults which needs further investigation. From 1996 to 2000, there was a reduction in the mortality rate due to pneumonia, and an increase of the mortality rate due to diabetes. The mortality rate due to cerebral-vascular and coronary heart diseases decreased from 1996 to 2000, but the former remained as the leading cause of death in 2000, possibly due to the precariousness of blood pressure control. This result indicates that a faster decrease of cerebral-vascular diseases among older adults should be priority in Brazil.

Keywords : mortality; cohort effect; elderly health; epidemiology of aging.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )