Health Information Systems

IJCS

Editorial

The Use of Health Information Systems for Investigations

Information is a fundamental resource in a society, mainly for decision making. The process of obtaining this precious resource requires mastery and knowledge of its source.

In investigations in several areas, regardless of their purposes, the use of information systems is frequently observed. An information system is complex, but, according to Siqueira, initially, it is composed of three basic elements: data, information, and knowledge. The data, according to the author, would be the smallest particle of this system. It is the element from registration, without any analysis. It is essential, as it will affect the other elements depending on how it is registered. Data quality is influenced by the following: reliability, it corresponds to the reality of the event; up-to-dateness, the registered data is made available in a timely manner for its use; and completeness, the data covers all the characteristics of the investigated event. Information is regularly formed by a set of data. It comes from combining and analyzing several data. Knowledge comes from factors related to the use of information such as interpretation and applicability.

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IJCS

Original Article

Cardiovascular Diseases Mortality Rates in Nine Cities of Rio Grande do Sul from 2009 to 2019: Temporal Trends and Demographic Differences

Pâmela Sandri et al. Luiz Artur Rosa Filho Elias Sato de Almeida Shana Ginar da Silva

Abstract

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality statistics in Brazil and worldwide. The evaluation of the temporal and spatial distribution of mortality due to CVD is essential to support actions aimed at monitoring the implementation of health policies.

Objectives

To analyze the temporal trend of mortality due to CVD from 2009 to 2019, as well as the main causes of death according to gender and age group in nine cities of Rio Grande do Sul (RS).

Methods

This is an ecological study based on data from the Mortality Information System. The rates were stratified according to gender, age group and cause, which were composed of ischemic heart diseases (IHD), cerebrovascular diseases and hypertensive diseases (HD). Prais-Winsten regression was used for time trend estimates.

Results

Three out of the nine cities analyzed showed a significant reduction in the overall mortality rates due to CVD in the timeframe evaluated (p<0.05). When the cause of death was analyzed, there was a decreasing trend in mortality due to IHD in Caxias do Sul, Ijuí and Porto Alegre. In these cities and also in Passo Fundo and Uruguaiana, there was a decrease in mortality due to cerebrovascular diseases. The cities of Ijuí, Porto Alegre and Santa Maria recorded an increase in hypertensive disease mortality rates. In most cities, there was an increase in rates related to greater age and male sex.

Conclusion

Heterogeneity was observed in the trend of mortality due to CVD throughout the historical series, which may be related to the execution of public policies and the control of cardiovascular risk factors in the evaluated territories.