Increase in Non-AIDS Related Conditions as Causes of Death among HIV-Infected Individuals in the HAART Era in Brazil

Background. In 1996, Brazil became the first developing country to provide free and universal access to HAART. Although a decrease in overall mortality has been documented, there are no published data on the impact of HAART on causes of death among HIV-infected individuals in Brazil. We assessed temporal trends of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM) and other conditions generally not associated with HIV-infection among persons with and without HIV infection in Brazil between 1999 and 2004. Methodology/Principal Findings. Odds ratios were used to compare causes of death in individuals who had HIV/AIDS listed on any field of the death certificate with those who did not. Logistic regression models were fitted with generalized estimating equations to account for spatial correlation; co-variables were added to the models to control for potential confounding. Of 5,856,056 deaths reported in Brazil between 1999 and 2004 67,249 (1.15%) had HIV/AIDS listed on the death certificate and non-HIV-related conditions were listed on 16.3% in 1999, Increasing to 24.1% by 2004 (p<0.001) The adjusted average yearly increases were 8% and 0.8% for CVD (p<0.001), and 12% and 2.8% for DM (p<0.001), for those who had and kiki not have HIV/AIDS listed on the death certificate respectively. Similar results were found for these conditions as underlying causes of death. Conclusions/Significance. In Brazil between 1999 and 2004 conditions usually considered not to be related to HIV-infection appeared to become more likely causes of death over time than reported causes of death among individuals who had HIV/AIDS listed on the death certificate than in those who did not. This observation has important programmatic implications for developing countries that are scaling-up access to antiretroviral therapy. © 2008 Pacheco et al

Disparities in cervical and breast cancer mortality in Brazil

OBJETIVO: Analisar a evolução da mortalidade por câncer do colo uterino e de mama no Brasil, segundo indicadores socioeconômicos e assistenciais. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados dados agregados de 30 anos (1980- 2010) de mortalidade por câncer de mama e colo uterino. Os dados de óbitos foram extraídos do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade, os denominadores populacionais, do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, e os indicadores socioeconômicos e assistenciais do Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica e Aplicada. Foram calculadas as médias móveis desagregadas por capitais e municípios do interior dos estados. O percentual de mudança anual das taxas foi estimado a partir da regressão linear segmentada por joinpoint. Foi feita correlação de Pearson entre as taxas médias trienais do final do período e os indicadores selecionados das capitais e de cada estado brasileiro. RESULTADOS: Houve queda da mortalidade por câncer do colo uterino em todo o período, exceto em municípios das regiões Norte e Nordeste fora das capitais. Houve declínio na mortalidade por câncer de mama nas capitais a partir do final da década de 1990. Os indicadores socioeconômicos positivos correlacionaram-se inversamente com a mortalidade de câncer do colo uterino. Observou-se forte correlação direta entre indicadores positivos e inversa com a taxa de fecundidade e a mortalidade por câncer de mama nos municípios do interior dos estados. CONCLUSÕES: Encontra-se em curso um mecanismo dinâmico entre aumento de risco por câncer de mama e do colo uterino com atenuação da mortalidade em função da expansão de oferta e acesso ao rastreamento, diagnóstico e tratamento, porém de forma desigual.OBJECTIVE: To analyze cervical and breast cancer mortality in Brazil according to socioeconomic and welfare indicators. METHODS: Data on breast and cervical cancer mortality covering a 30-year period (1980-2010) were analyzed. The data were obtained from the National Mortality Database, population data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics database, and socioeconomic and welfare information from the Institute of Applied Economic Research. Moving averages were calculated, disaggregated by capital city and municipality. The annual percent change in mortality rates was estimated by segmented linear regression using the joinpoint method. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were conducted between average mortality rate at the end of the three-year period and selected indicators in the state capital and each Brazilian state. RESULTS: There was a decline in cervical cancer mortality rates throughout the period studied, except in municipalities outside of the capitals in the North and Northeast. There was a decrease in breast cancer mortality in the capitals from the end of the 1990s onwards. Favorable socioeconomic indicators were inversely correlated with cervical cancer mortality. A strong direct correlation was found with favorable indicators and an inverse correlation with fertility rate and breast cancer mortality in inner cities. CONCLUSIONS: There is an ongoing dynamic process of increased risk of cervical and breast cancer and attenuation of mortality because of increased, albeit unequal, access to and provision of screening, diagnosis and treatment