The burden of injury in Brazil, 2003

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Since 1980, injuries have been the second biggest cause of death among the Brazilian population. This study aimed to analyze national data on fatal injuries and nonfatal injury hospitalization in Brazil, for 2003. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a population-based descriptive study, Brazil, 2003. METHODS: Data from 126,520 fatal injuries and 733,712 nonfatal injuries seen at public hospitals were analyzed. The data were stratified by sex, age, intent and injury mechanism. Raw and age- and sex-specific rates were calculated per 100,000 individuals. RESULTS: The raw injury mortality rate was 71.5/100,000 (122.6/100,000 for male and 22.0/100,000 for female). For fatal injuries, the proportions of unintentional and intentional injuries were equal (44.3% and 46.9%, respectively). Homicides were the leading cause, 40.3% overall (28.8/100,000), followed by transport-related deaths, 26.2% overall (17.0/100,000). For nonfatal injuries, the rate was 414.8/100,000 and unintentional injuries were predominant (88.9%). Overall, the leading cause was unintentional falls, accounting for 42.6% of victims treated in public hospitals (176.8/100,000). Transport-related injuries were second: 15.0% overall; 62.0/100,000. Fractures comprised 46.7% of principal diagnoses at hospitals. The injury types in the fatal and nonfatal datasets varied according to sex and age. The highest rates were found among young males and elderly people. CONCLUSIONS: Injury prevention activities need to be developed. To prevent deaths, homicide has to be addressed. Among hospitalized cases, falls are the most important problem. Traffic-related injuries play an important role in morbidity and mortality.

Road Traffic Deaths in Brazil: Rising Trends in Pedestrian and Motorcycle Occupant Deaths

“…Brazil's aging index comparing elderly (≥60 years old) to youth (<15 years old) populations has been steadily growing since 2000. Elderly populations are more susceptible to increased mortality due to factors of comorbidity, including decreased physiologic reserve and elevated incidence of preexisting medical conditions (Gawryszewski and Rodrigues 2006). Travel behavior in elderly populations also suggests increases in nonmotorized transport (Ubeda et al 2011).…”

“…Brazil's road traffic mortality rates have been increasing since the 1960s, which correlates to increases in the registered motor vehicle fleet size; the registered fleet size has increased from approximately 32 million in 2001 to 54.5 million in 2008 (Vasconcellos 1999). In 2003, road traffic crashes in Brazil were responsible for over 26 percent of fatal injuries (rate of 17 per 100,000 population; Gawryszewski and Rodrigues 2006). The most commonly affected population in road traffic fatalities was found to be males in the "20 to 29 year old" age group (Franca et al 2008).…”

Perfil epidemiológico dos atendimentos de emergência por lesões bucodentais decorrentes de causas externas, Brasil, 2006 e 2007

“…No Brasil, a taxa de mortalidade (TM) por esses eventos apresenta-se alta e crescente desde a década de 1980 5 , o que demonstra a importân-cia do problema para o país 6 . Em 2007, foram registradas 131.032 mortes por causas externas, das quais 47.707 (36,4%) decorreram de homicídios (TM = 25,2/100.000 habitantes) e 38.419 (29,3%) resultaram de acidentes de transporte (TM = 20,3/100.000 habitantes) (Ministério da Saúde.…”

Risk factors for recurrent falls among Brazilian women and men: the Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS)

“…In 2003, Gawryszewski et al 4 analyzed Brazilian National Data on 126,529 fatal injuries and 733,712 non-fatal injury hospitalizations at public hospitals. The raw injury mortality rate was 71.5/100,000 inhabitants (122.6 for male and 22 for female).…”