The burden of ischaemic heart disease in Brazil from 1990 to 2019 and the association between temporal changes and socioeconomic level
Authors: Cesena F , Polanczyk C , Teixeira R , Ribeiro A , Oliveira G ,   Cardiovascular Statistics – Brazil
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The burden of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) has declined in several countries, although IHD remains the leading cause of death globally. Brazil is a large country with high inequality in income distribution across different regions.

Purpose

This study sought to evaluate the burden of IHD in Brazil from 1990 to 2019, as well as the relationship between temporal changes and socioeconomic level of the Federative Units.

Methods

Estimates of prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to IHD were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. We used databases from the Ministry of Health of Brazil to obtain the number of hospitalisations from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the context of the public service. The Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income per capita, average educational attainment, and fertility rate in females younger than 25 years, was used as a measure of socioeconomic status. Rates with 95% uncertainty intervals are reported.

Results

In 2019, the age-standardised prevalence rate of IHD was 1,709 (1,466–1,994) per 100,000 inhabitants. This rate remained stable from 1990 to 2019 (percent change: −1.1 [−2.6–0.5]). The estimate of deaths from IHD in 2019 was 171,246 (156,180–180,511), corresponding to 12% (11%-13%) of total deaths in the country (the leading cause) and 43% of all cardiovascular deaths. In 2019, the age-standardised mortality rate due to IHD was 75 (68–79) per 100,000. The unadjusted mortality rate due to IHD mildly increased from 2005 to 2019, while the age-standardised rate continuously decreased from 1990 to 2019 (cumulative percent change: −53 (−55 to −50, Figure 1). A negative correlation was observed between the change in age-standardised mortality rate from IHD in the period and the 2019 SDI (Figure 2). In 2019, the age-standardised DALY rate due to IHD was 1,563 (1,472–1,636) per 100,000. This DALY rate was equivalent to 5.7% (5.1%-6.3%) of total DALYs, meaning that IHD was the second most common cause of DALYs in Brazil in females and males. From 1990 to 2019, the crude DALY rate per 100,000 remained fairly stable, and the age- standardised DALY rate per 100,000 gradually declined (−50% [−52% to −48%]). There was a negative correlation between the change in age-standardised DALY rate from IHD in the period and the SDI (r2 0.59, p-value &lt;0.01). The number of hospital admissions for ACS remained stable from 2008 to 2019 (33 per 100,000 in 2019). The number of hospitalisations due to AMI increased from 25 per 100,000 in 2008 to 39 per 100,000 in 2019 (percent change: 52%).

Conclusions

While age-standardised mortality, DALY rates continuously decreased from 1990 to 2019, the burden of IHD in Brazil remains high, probably due to ageing and population growth. Reductions in age-standardised mortality, DALY rates over time tend to be more pronounced in more developed regions.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Mortality rate (per 100,000)Change in mortality rate and SDI