It is crucial to develop injury preventive activities in both public and individual level. Falls should receive emphasis in injury prevention efforts.

ResumoObjetivO. Analisar as características das quedas no grupo etário com 60 anos ou mais, com ênfase nas quedas no mesmo nível, residentes no Estado de São Paulo, a partir da análise das diferentes fontes de informação oficiais. MétOdOs. ResultadOs. O sexo masculino preponderou nas mortes (51,2 %) enquanto o sexo feminino preponderou nas internações (61,1%) e atendimentos em emergências (60,4%). O coeficiente de mortalidade foi 31/100.000 habitantes, aumentando com a idade e atingindo o valor de 110,7/100.000 habitantes na faixa de 80 anos e mais. As quedas no mesmo nível foram responsáveis pela maior proporção de mortes definidas (35%), nas internações (47,5%) e também nas emergências (66%), crescendo de importância com o aumento das faixas etárias. A residência foi o local de ocorrência em 65,8% dos casos atendidos nas emergências. Os traumatismos de cabeça assumem importância nas mortes; as fraturas de fêmur foram as lesões mais frequentes nas internações e emergências. Nas emergências, as mulheres foram 1,55 vezes significativamente mais prováveis de serem atendidas por uma queda do que pelas outras causas externas que os homens. Comparativamente à faixa de 60 a 69 anos, os indivíduos na faixa de 70 a 79 anos foram 2,10 vezes e os indivíduos de 80 anos e mais foram 2,26 vezes significativamente mais prováveis de serem atendidos por uma queda do que pelas outras causas externas. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante quanto ao sexo ou faixa etária quando se comparou os indivíduos que sofreram quedas no mesmo nível e outros tipos de queda. COnClusãO. Recomenda-se que a prevenção das quedas entre idosos entre na pauta de discussão das políticas públicas sem mais demora.

Desde o início da década de 80, as causas externas representam a segunda causa de morte no Brasil. Também determinam crescente demanda aos serviços de saúde. O objetivo do presente trabalho é analisar a morbi-mortalidade por causas externas no Brasil. O material do estudo é composto pelas 118.367 mortes e 652.249 internações hospitalares por causas externas ocorridas no Brasil no ano 2000. Os dados são provenientes do Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade e Sistema de Informações Hospitalares. Entre os resultados destaca-se que o coeficiente de mortalidade por causas externas foi 69,7/100 mil (119,0/100 mil para os homens e 21,8/100 mil para as mulheres). Os homicídios lideraram as causas de morte (38,3% do total), com coeficiente alto, 26,7/100 mil e as quedas lideram as internações (42,8% do total). Os traumas e lesões relacionados ao transporte terrestre são importantes tanto na morbidade quanto na mortalidade. As fraturas representaram 42,6% das hospitalizações, mais freqüentes em membros superiores e inferiores. Aponta-se que os programas de prevenção devem ter impacto tanto na mortalidade quanto na morbidade, com destaque para os homicídios, transporte e quedas.

CVD death rates have been decreasing in most countries in the Americas. Considerable disparities still remain in the current rates and trends.

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the characteristics of visits resulting from land transport injuries. METHODS:A total of 5,934 visits in four hospital emergency departments (ED) were analyzed, in the state of São Paulo, in 2005. A questionnaire based on the following three models was used to collect data: World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Variables analyzed were as follows: type of road user (vehicle occupant, pedestrian, motorcyclist, and cyclist), sex, age group, and type of injury suffered. Logistic regression analysis was employed to test associations between variables. Odds ratios with their respective 95% confi dence intervals were calculated. RESULTS:The majority of victims were males (74.2%) in the 20-to-29-year age group (35.0%). Vulnerable road users totaled 72.4% of all cases (29.8% were motorcyclists, 24.1% pedestrians, and 18.5% cyclists). Victims aged between zero and 14 years who had suffered injuries were mostly pedestrians and cyclists; motorcyclists predominated among those aged between 15 and 39 years; and pedestrians among those aged over 50 years. About half of the cases suffered minor injuries (strains, dislocations, contusions and cuts), while the other half was comprised by fractures, traumatic brain injuries and internal injuries. Extremities were the most affected body parts, particularly among motorcyclists. The majority of victims were discharged at triage (87.6%). Compared to women, men were 1.5 times more likely to be admitted or transferred, or to die. Pedestrians, vehicle occupants and motorcyclists were, respectively, 2.7, 2.4 and 1.9 times more likely to be admitted or transferred, or to die than cyclists. CONCLUSIONS:Measures aimed to protect vulnerable road users should be among the priorities to reduce land transport-related injuries.

ObjectiveThe relation between income and mortality due to violence has been studied in recent years. MethodsThis is an ecological cross-sectional study. Data regarding Sao Paulo City, Brazil in the year 2000 was analyzed. The association between homicide coefficients and the following five indicators were tested: infant mortality rates, monthly average income of household heads, percentage of adolescents aged 15 to 17 years not attending school, proportion of pregnant adolescent women aged 14 to 17 years and demographic density. Pearson's correlation coefficient and a multiple linear regression model were utilized to test these associations. ResultsThe municipal homicide rate was 57.3/100,000. The correlation between homicide rates and average monthly income was strong and negative (r=-0.65). Higher homicide rates were found in the districts whose inhabitants had lower incomes and lower rates were found in those districts whose inhabitants had higher incomes. The correlation between homicide rates and proportion of adolescents not attending school was positive and strong (r=0.68). The correlation between homicide rates and the proportion of pregnant adolescent women was positive and strong (r=0.67). The correlation between homicides and the rate of infant mortality was r=0.24 (for all: p<0.05). The correlation between demographic density and homicides was not significant. Although the univariate regression was positive for four indicators, the multivariate regression test was only significant for average monthly income (negative) and proportion of adolescents not attending school (positive) (for both indicators: p<0.01). ConclusionsThe findings highlight the problem of homicides and socioeconomic disparities in S. Paulo City. Economic development and reducing socioeconomic inequality may have an impact on the rates of mortality due to violence.

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Resumo Em 2006, o Ministério da Saúde implantou a Rede de Serviços Sentinelas de Vigilância de