Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in Brazil: The Truth Hidden in the Numbers

According to the 2030 Agenda of the World Health Organization for Sustainable Development, member states are committed to a 30% reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (ischemic cardiomyopathy and stroke), cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes. These conditions account for about 41 million deaths per year, i.e., 71% of deaths worldwide. To direct strategies for to prevent and treat these with these diseases, information from reliable, transparent and reproducible systems is essential. The analysis of mortality trends is key for the effective development of health, social security, investment and other policies.

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies initiative is in line with this agenda, as it aims to improve understanding of diseases through the analysis of data on incidence, prevalence and mortality in a consistent, updated and global manner, both at a regional level and at a national level. Over the past few years, this methodological proposal has brought practical information for reducing these diseases around the world, overcoming challenges regarding methodology, particularly the heterogeneity of records and data from different countries. ^, Through data from multiple sources (health records, cohorts and prospective trials, administrative data, verbal analysis and others) and applying complex statistical models, the initiative has provided data by sex, age and country, to more than 310 diseases and conditions, with continuous methodological improvement.

[…]