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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">abc</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Arq. Bras. Cardiol.</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">0066-782X</issn>
      <issn pub-type="epub">1678-4170</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia - SBC</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc>S&#227;o Paulo, SP, Brazil</publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v3">pPHbyQTVkFXqfgBpVbvnLzf</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="other">00005</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v2">S0066-782X2005001500005</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v1">S0066-782X(05)08500205</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1590/S0066-782X2005001500005</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Artigo Original</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Tend&#234;ncia da mortalidade por doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o na cidade de Curitiba - Brasil, de 1980 a 1998</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Daniel</surname>
            <given-names>Edevar</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Germiniani</surname>
            <given-names>Helio</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Nazareno</surname>
            <given-names>Eleusis Ronconi de</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Braga</surname>
            <given-names>Simone Viana</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Winkler</surname>
            <given-names>Anderson Marcelo</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Cunha</surname>
            <given-names>Claudio L. Pereira da</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date date-type="collection" publication-format="electronic">
        <month>08</month>
        <year>2005</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>85</volume>
      <issue>2</issue>
      <fpage>100</fpage>
      <lpage>104</lpage>
      <history>
        <date date-type="received">
          <day>23</day>
          <month>05</month>
          <year>2003</year>
        </date>
        <date date-type="accepted">
          <day>05</day>
          <month>02</month>
          <year>2005</year>
        </date>
      </history>
      <permissions>
        <license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" xml:lang="en">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract>
        <p>OBJETIVO: Analisar a tend&#234;ncia de mortalidade pelas doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, por sexo, e do infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, por sexo e faixa et&#225;ria, de 1980 a 1998, na cidade de Curitiba. M&#201;TODOS: Utilizou-se os dados de &#243;bitos por doen&#231;a isqu&#234;mica do cora&#231;&#227;o e infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio do Sistema de Informa&#231;&#227;o sobre Mortalidade do Minist&#233;rio da Sa&#250;de, por sexo, faixa et&#225;ria e local de resid&#234;ncia em Curitiba. Os dados de popula&#231;&#227;o foram obtidos da Funda&#231;&#227;o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica. As taxas de mortalidade foram ajustadas por idade pelo m&#233;todo direto, utilizando como refer&#234;ncia a popula&#231;&#227;o de Curitiba, em 1980. A an&#225;lise de tend&#234;ncia foi calculada atrav&#233;s da regress&#227;o linear simples, com um n&#237;vel de signific&#226;ncia de 5%. RESULTADOS: As taxas de mortalidade das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o apresentaram uma tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio em ambos os sexos. Nas faixas et&#225;rias do infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, o sexo masculino apresentou queda at&#233; os 79 anos; no sexo feminino, at&#233; os 59 anos, mantendo-se est&#225;veis ap&#243;s estes per&#237;odos. No restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas, o sexo feminino apresentou uma queda maior que o masculino. CONCLUS&#195;O: O estudo demonstra uma tend&#234;ncia de redu&#231;&#227;o da mortalidade por doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, em ambos os sexos, na cidade de Curitiba, de 1980 a 1998. No infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, essa redu&#231;&#227;o vem ocorrendo de forma mais pronunciada nos homens, mantendo-se est&#225;vel, a partir dos 60 anos, nas mulheres. As raz&#245;es para a tend&#234;ncia de redu&#231;&#227;o diferenciada entre os sexos n&#227;o s&#227;o claras, permanecendo como importante quest&#227;o para novas investiga&#231;&#245;es.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="pt" kwd-group-type="author-generated">
        <kwd>estudos de tend&#234;ncia</kwd>
        <kwd>mortalidade</kwd>
        <kwd>doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o</kwd>
        <kwd>infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
      <pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub">
        <day>29</day>
        <month>09</month>
        <year>2005</year>
      </pub-date>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <p>
      <bold>ARTIGO ORIGINAL</bold>
    </p>
    <p>
      <bold>Tend&#234;ncia da mortalidade por doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o na cidade de Curitiba &#150; Brasil, de 1980 a 1998</bold>
    </p>
    <p>
      <bold>Mortality trend due to ischemic heart diseases in the city of Curitiba &#150; Brazil, from 1980 to 1998</bold>
    </p>
    <p>
      <bold>Edevar Daniel; Helio Germiniani; Eleusis Ronconi de Nazareno; Simone Viana Braga; Anderson Marcelo Winkler; Claudio L. Pereira da Cunha</bold>
    </p>
    <p>Universidade Federal do Paran&#225; - Curitiba, PR</p>
    <p>
      <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="back10">Endere&#231;o para correspond&#234;ncia</xref>
    </p>
    <p>
      <bold>RESUMO</bold>
    </p>
    <p><bold>OBJETIVO: </bold>Analisar a tend&#234;ncia de mortalidade pelas doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, por sexo, e do infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, por sexo e faixa et&#225;ria, de 1980 a 1998, na cidade de Curitiba. </p>
    <p><bold>M&#201;TODOS: </bold>Utilizou-se os dados de &#243;bitos por doen&#231;a isqu&#234;mica do cora&#231;&#227;o e infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio do Sistema de Informa&#231;&#227;o sobre Mortalidade do Minist&#233;rio da Sa&#250;de, por sexo, faixa et&#225;ria e local de resid&#234;ncia em Curitiba. Os dados de popula&#231;&#227;o foram obtidos da Funda&#231;&#227;o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica. As taxas de mortalidade foram ajustadas por idade pelo m&#233;todo direto, utilizando como refer&#234;ncia a popula&#231;&#227;o de Curitiba, em 1980. A an&#225;lise de tend&#234;ncia foi calculada atrav&#233;s da regress&#227;o linear simples, com um n&#237;vel de signific&#226;ncia de 5%. </p>
    <p><bold>RESULTADOS: </bold>As taxas de mortalidade das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o apresentaram uma tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio em ambos os sexos. Nas faixas et&#225;rias do infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, o sexo masculino apresentou queda at&#233; os 79 anos; no sexo feminino, at&#233; os 59 anos, mantendo-se est&#225;veis ap&#243;s estes per&#237;odos. No restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas, o sexo feminino apresentou uma queda maior que o masculino. </p>
    <p><bold>CONCLUS&#195;O: </bold>O estudo demonstra uma tend&#234;ncia de redu&#231;&#227;o da mortalidade por doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, em ambos os sexos, na cidade de Curitiba, de 1980 a 1998. No infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, essa redu&#231;&#227;o vem ocorrendo de forma mais pronunciada nos homens, mantendo-se est&#225;vel, a partir dos 60 anos, nas mulheres. As raz&#245;es para a tend&#234;ncia de redu&#231;&#227;o diferenciada entre os sexos n&#227;o s&#227;o claras, permanecendo como importante quest&#227;o para novas investiga&#231;&#245;es.</p>
    <p><bold>Palavras-chave: </bold>estudos de tend&#234;ncia; mortalidade; doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o; infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio</p>
    <p>
      <bold>ABSTRACT</bold>
    </p>
    <p><bold>OBJECTIVE: </bold>To assess mortality trends due to ischemic heart diseases, per sex, and acute myocardial infarction, per sex and age range, from 1980 to 1998, in the city of Curitiba. </p>
    <p><bold>METHODS: </bold>Data of death due to ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction from Sistema de Informa&#231;&#227;o sobre Mortalidade do Minist&#233;rio da Sa&#250;de (Information System on Mortality of Ministry of Health), per sex, age range and domicile location in Curitiba were used. Population data were obtained from Funda&#231;&#227;o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics Foundation). Mortality rates were adjusted per age through direct method, by using the population of Curitiba, in 1980, as reference. The analysis of trend was calculated through simple linear regression, with a significance level of 5%. </p>
    <p><bold>RESULTS: </bold>Mortality rates due to ischemic heart diseases showed a decrease trend among both sexes. In age ranges of acute myocardial infarction, male sex showed a decrease until 79 years of age, among female sex individuals, the decrease was until 59 years of age. They were shown stable after those periods. Among the remaining ischemic diseases, female sex individuals showed a greater decrease than male sex ones. </p>
    <p><bold>CONCLUSION: </bold>The study demonstrates a trend of reduction of mortality due to ischemic heart diseases, in both sexes, in the city of Curitiba, from 1980 to 1998. In acute myocardial infarction, such reduction has been happening in a more pronounced way among men, achieving stability, from 60 years of age, among women. The reasons for differentiated reduction trend between sexes are not clear, remaining as na important matter for new investigations.</p>
    <p><bold>Key words: </bold>trend studies; mortality; ischemic heart diseases; acute myocardial infarction</p>
    <p>As doen&#231;as do aparelho circulat&#243;rio constituem a principal causa de mortes no Pa&#237;s. Na cidade de Curitiba, em 1998, elas representaram 33,8% do total dos &#243;bitos, sendo as doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o (DIC) e, principalmente, o infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio (IAM), o seu o maior componente<sup>1</sup>.</p>
    <p>Entretanto, apesar da magnitude, nos &#250;ltimos 40 anos, a tend&#234;ncia dessas taxas tem declinado em pa&#237;ses como Estados Unidos, Canad&#225;, Austr&#225;lia, Jap&#227;o, Reino Unido e outros da Europa Ocidental, ap&#243;s um per&#237;odo praticamente estacion&#225;rio<sup>2</sup>.</p>
    <p>No Brasil, a partir dos anos 70, alguns estudos t&#234;m mostrado a tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio da mortalidade por doen&#231;a isqu&#234;mica do cora&#231;&#227;o<sup>3-9</sup>. Souza e cols., ap&#243;s analise da mortalidade pelas doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o nas cinco regi&#245;es do Brasil, de 1979 a 1996, conclu&#237;ram que o risco de morte pelas doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o est&#225; diminuindo nas regi&#245;es Sul e Sudeste e aumentando nas regi&#245;es Centro-Oeste, Nordeste e Norte<sup>7</sup>, Mansur e cols., na analise da tend&#234;ncia do risco de morte por doen&#231;as circulat&#243;rias no Brasil, de 1979 a 1996, demonstraram que vem existindo redu&#231;&#227;o na mortalidade por doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o<sup>8</sup>.</p>
    <p>Para Curitiba, Lolio e cols. verificaram que a mortalidade por doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o permaneceu est&#225;vel, no per&#237;odo de 1979 a 1989, tanto em homens quanto em mulheres<sup>9</sup>. No entanto, o per&#237;odo de 10 anos, que foi avaliado, precedeu a incorpora&#231;&#227;o de novos conhecimentos sobre os fatores de risco e interven&#231;&#245;es, que v&#234;m sendo cada vez mais utilizadas, como a terapia trombol&#237;tica e angioplastia prim&#225;ria, al&#233;m de novos avan&#231;os diagn&#243;sticos e terap&#234;uticos, que t&#234;m contribu&#237;do para um melhor progn&#243;stico dos pacientes com doen&#231;a isqu&#234;mica do cora&#231;&#227;o.</p>
    <p>Al&#233;m destes fatores, a popula&#231;&#227;o da cidade de Curitiba aumentou durante esse per&#237;odo. No ano de 1980, a popula&#231;&#227;o era de 1.024.975 habitantes, em 1998, 1.550.317, um aumento de 51%<sup>10,11</sup>. Sua composi&#231;&#227;o et&#225;ria tamb&#233;m mudou, com um aumento da popula&#231;&#227;o mais idosa.</p>
    <p>Em rela&#231;&#227;o &#224; mortalidade, em 1980, as DIC representaram 12,1% e o IAM, 7,9% do total de &#243;bitos, enquanto, em 1998, as DIC representaram 12,8% e o IAM, 9,0% do total dos &#243;bitos. Analisando estes dados, verificou-se a necessidade de um estudo ao longo do tempo (tend&#234;ncia), que levasse em conta o ajuste das taxas de mortalidade por idade (faixa et&#225;ria).</p>
    <p>Dentro desta perspectiva, este estudo teve por objetivo analisar a tend&#234;ncia da mortalidade pelas doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, por sexo, e do infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, por sexo e faixa et&#225;ria, de 1980 a 1998, na cidade de Curitiba.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>M&#233;todos</bold>
    </p>
    <p>Os dados de &#243;bitos por infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio e o restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;mica do cora&#231;&#227;o estavam dispon&#237;veis no Sistema de Informa&#231;&#227;o sobre Mortalidade do Minist&#233;rio da Sa&#250;de (Datasus), por sexo, faixa et&#225;ria e local de resid&#234;ncia, em Curitiba, classificados no grupo 410-414(CID-9) e I20-I25(CID-10)<sup>12,13</sup>. Os dados de popula&#231;&#227;o foram obtidos da Funda&#231;&#227;o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica, sendo utilizados como denominadores, por sexo e faixas et&#225;rias, de acordo com as estimativas para o per&#237;odo de 1980 a 1998.</p>
    <p>A mortalidade por infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio foi tamb&#233;m analisada por faixas et&#225;rias, entre 30 e 80 anos ou mais, agrupadas em intervalos de 10 anos, para haver compatibilidade com a classifica&#231;&#227;o et&#225;ria dos &#243;bitos apresentados no DATASUS.</p>
    <p>As taxas de mortalidade foram ajustadas, por idade, pelo m&#233;todo direto, utilizando, como refer&#234;ncia, a composi&#231;&#227;o et&#225;ria na cidade de Curitiba, em 1980.</p>
    <p>A tend&#234;ncia das taxas no per&#237;odo de estudo, por sexo e faixa et&#225;ria, foi calculada por regress&#227;o linear simples e a propor&#231;&#227;o da vari&#226;ncia total explic&#225;vel, pelo modelo linear, expressa em R&#178; (pode variar de 1 a 0), sendo que, quanto mais pr&#243;ximo de 1 mostra uma rela&#231;&#227;o de tend&#234;ncia forte, quanto mais pr&#243;ximo de 0, mostra uma rela&#231;&#227;o de tend&#234;ncia fraca. Nas equa&#231;&#245;es das retas (y=bx+a), que v&#227;o ser mostradas, "x" recebeu o valor m&#237;nimo de 0, em 1980, e no m&#225;ximo de 18, em 1998. O valor "b", que multiplica "x" em cada equa&#231;&#227;o, &#233; o coeficiente de inclina&#231;&#227;o da reta: quanto maior o m&#243;dulo de "b", mais inclinada &#233; a reta. Valores negativos de "b" indicam uma inclina&#231;&#227;o para baixo (decl&#237;nio). Os testes de hip&#243;teses foram conduzidos com n&#237;vel de signific&#226;ncia de 5% (p&lt;0,05).</p>
    <p>A porcentagem de varia&#231;&#227;o anual foi calculada a partir da raz&#227;o (b/a) x 100.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Resultados</bold>
    </p>
    <p>A <xref ref-type="table" rid="t1">tabela I</xref> mostra os coeficientes de mortalidade (/100000) por sexo, do total das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, que iniciam com 98,4 para o sexo masculino e 62,9, para o sexo feminino, em 1980, passando para 66,1 no sexo masculino e 43,4, no sexo feminino, em 1998. No infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, com 70,8 para o sexo masculino e 34,4, para o sexo feminino, em 1980, e passando para 48,3 no sexo masculino e 30,3, no sexo feminino, em 1998. No restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, com 27,6 para o sexo masculino e 28,5, para o sexo feminino, em 1980, passando para 17,7 no sexo masculino e 13,1, no sexo feminino, em 1998.</p>
    <p content-type="asset">
      <table-wrap id="t1">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gt01.jpg"/></table-wrap>
    </p>
    <p>A rela&#231;&#227;o masculino/feminino das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o manteve-se est&#225;vel, iniciando com 1,6, em 1980, e passando para 1,5, em 1998. No infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, a redu&#231;&#227;o do coeficiente de mortalidade foi mais pronunciada no sexo masculino, onde a raz&#227;o masculino/feminino, que iniciou com 2,1, em 1980, chegou a 1,6, em 1998. No restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, houve uma tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio maior nas mulheres, onde a raz&#227;o masculino/feminino, que iniciou com 1,0, em 1980, chegou a 1,4, em 1998.</p>
    <p>Na <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">figura 1</xref>, verifica-se que as doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o mostraram uma significativa redu&#231;&#227;o em ambos os sexos (p&lt;0,05). O sexo masculino apresentou uma tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio forte (R&#178;=0,76), e o sexo feminino, uma tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio m&#233;dio (R&#178;=0,54).</p>
    <fig id="fig1">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf01.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>Na <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">figura 2</xref>, no grupo de infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, que representa o maior n&#250;mero de mortes, houve uma redu&#231;&#227;o em ambos os sexos (p&lt;0.05), sendo que a redu&#231;&#227;o foi muito mais pronunciada no sexo masculino (R&#178;=0,73) que no feminino, que apresentou uma redu&#231;&#227;o menor (R&#178;=0,29).</p>
    <fig id="fig2">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf02.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>Na <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">figura 3</xref>, no restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o houve uma redu&#231;&#227;o em ambos os sexos (p&lt;0,05), no feminino a redu&#231;&#227;o &#233; m&#233;dia (R&#178;=0,50), sendo que no masculino a redu&#231;&#227;o &#233; menor (R&#178;=0,27).</p>
    <fig id="fig3">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf03.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>Nos coeficientes espec&#237;ficos de mortalidade por infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, por sexo e faixa et&#225;ria, foi verificado que o sexo masculino apresenta uma redu&#231;&#227;o at&#233; a faixa et&#225;ria dos 70 a 79 anos (p&lt;0.05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">figs. 4</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">5</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">6</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">7</xref> e <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">8</xref>), mantendo-se est&#225;vel na faixa et&#225;ria maior de 80 anos (p&gt;0.05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">fig. 9</xref>). No sexo feminino, verificou-se uma redu&#231;&#227;o at&#233; a faixa et&#225;ria de 50 a 59 anos (p&lt;0,05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">figs. 4</xref>,<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">5</xref> e <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">6</xref>), mantendo-se est&#225;vel da faixa et&#225;ria dos 60 a 69 anos at&#233; a faixa de 80 anos ou mais (p&gt;0,05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">figs. 7</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">8</xref> e <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">9</xref>).</p>
    <fig id="fig4">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf04.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig5">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf05.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig6">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf06.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig7">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf07.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig8">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf08.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig9">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf09.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>As retas lineares mostram a tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio, cuja intensidade pode ser avaliada pelos valores de beta, R&#178;, p e a% anual. Como exemplo, a equa&#231;&#227;o do total das DIC, no sexo masculino (y=-1,7522+103,29), diz que, a partir de 1980 (x=0), para cada unidade de mudan&#231;a em x (de 1 a 16) a taxa reduziu-se -1,7522, em m&#233;dia (partindo de 103,29), levando a uma tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio da reta, que apresenta um R&#178;=0,76 (considerado forte, pois se aproxima de 1). Expressando em porcentagem, essa redu&#231;&#227;o anual foi de -1,7% (1,7522/103,29x100). O mesmo princ&#237;pio vale para todas as demais retas.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Discuss&#227;o</bold>
    </p>
    <p>Os resultados apresentados permitiram identificar uma redu&#231;&#227;o nos coeficientes de mortalidade, ajustados por idade, no infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio e no restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas, mostrando uma redu&#231;&#227;o das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, em ambos os sexos, na cidade de Curitiba, de 1980 a 1998.</p>
    <p>Esta redu&#231;&#227;o em ambos os sexos, pode ser, em parte, explicada por uma melhor contribui&#231;&#227;o da assist&#234;ncia m&#233;dica, bem como das medidas de preven&#231;&#227;o prim&#225;ria para estas doen&#231;as, como vari&#225;veis explicativas para o decl&#237;nio observado de sua mortalidade. Goldman e Cook detectaram que 60% do decl&#237;nio da mortalidade por doen&#231;a isqu&#234;mica do cora&#231;&#227;o, observado para os Estados Unidos, entre 1968 a 1976, estava relacionado com mudan&#231;as no estilo de vida, principalmente, na redu&#231;&#227;o do tabagismo, enquanto 40%, foi decorrente de interven&#231;&#245;es m&#233;dicas espec&#237;ficas sobre estas doen&#231;as<sup>14,15</sup>.</p>
    <p>Dentre os diversos estudos j&#225; realizados no Brasil, ainda n&#227;o se conhece, com precis&#227;o, a participa&#231;&#227;o dos fatores envolvidos na determina&#231;&#227;o do decl&#237;nio da mortalidade pelas doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o<sup>3-8</sup>. A aus&#234;ncia de estudos para os fatores de risco ou de prote&#231;&#227;o ou para a incid&#234;ncia desta doen&#231;a, assim como de estudos anal&#237;ticos que possam testar sua associa&#231;&#227;o entre a mortalidade, limitam as explica&#231;&#245;es desejadas para o decl&#237;nio observado.</p>
    <p>No entanto, pode-se considerar, para a cidade de Curitiba, que a melhoria na qualidade da assist&#234;ncia m&#233;dica, com aumento da cobertura populacional dos programas de controle da hipertens&#227;o arterial e diabetes mellitus da Secretaria Municipal de Sa&#250;de<sup>16</sup><bold>,</bold> nas campanhas educativas de preven&#231;&#227;o, na introdu&#231;&#227;o de novos recursos diagn&#243;sticos, unidades coronarianas, angioplastias, tromb&#243;lise e revasculariza&#231;&#227;o mioc&#225;rdica devem estar contribuindo para uma diminui&#231;&#227;o da mortalidade.</p>
    <p>Com rela&#231;&#227;o &#224;s faixas et&#225;rias no infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, verificamos que no sexo masculino houve uma tend&#234;ncia de redu&#231;&#227;o at&#233; a faixa et&#225;ria de 70 a 79 anos (p&lt;0,05), mantendo-se est&#225;vel ap&#243;s este per&#237;odo. No sexo feminino, verificamos uma redu&#231;&#227;o at&#233; a faixa et&#225;ria de 50 a 59 anos (p&lt;0,05). Ap&#243;s este per&#237;odo, n&#227;o houve uma redu&#231;&#227;o significativa (p&gt;0,05).</p>
    <p>Os dados mostram que a tend&#234;ncia de decl&#237;nio do coeficiente de mortalidade, atribu&#237;da ao infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, vem ocorrendo de forma mais pronunciada nos homens que nas mulheres. As mulheres, na faixa et&#225;ria acima dos 60 anos, n&#227;o apresentaram redu&#231;&#227;o, indicando que a mortalidade nos homens apresentou uma tend&#234;ncia de se aproximar da mortalidade nas mulheres.</p>
    <p>A diferen&#231;a no decl&#237;nio da mortalidade entre os sexos e a n&#227;o redu&#231;&#227;o da mortalidade ap&#243;s os 60 anos, nas mulheres, foram uma n&#237;tida constata&#231;&#227;o neste trabalho. Alguns estudos, ap&#243;s ajuste para todas as vari&#225;veis de risco e idade, t&#234;m mostrado que a letalidade hospitalar por infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio e angina inst&#225;vel &#233; maior nas mulheres que nos homens<sup>17-20</sup>.</p>
    <p>Entre as potenciais explica&#231;&#245;es, devem ser consideradas diferen&#231;as entre homens e mulheres no controle de fatores de risco coronariano ao longo do tempo. Os homens, tradicionalmente, s&#227;o reconhecidos como de mais alto risco. Chegada tardia ap&#243;s o in&#237;cio da dor no peito, desvaloriza&#231;&#227;o ou nega&#231;&#227;o dos sintomas, quadro cl&#237;nico inicial at&#237;pico de infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio nas mulheres que procuram as unidades coronarianas poderiam ser outras poss&#237;veis explica&#231;&#245;es para a diferen&#231;a da mortalidade entre os sexos.</p>
    <p>O manuseio hospitalar desigual tamb&#233;m poderia ser respons&#225;vel pela diferen&#231;a entre os coeficientes de mortalidade. Descreve-se que as mulheres s&#227;o abordadas de maneira menos agressiva que os homens, desde a menor probabilidade de interna&#231;&#227;o em unidade coronariana at&#233; a refer&#234;ncia quanto &#224; utiliza&#231;&#227;o da coronariografia, mesmo que a probabilidade de isquemia seja equivalente entre homens e mulheres<sup>21-23</sup>. Sugere-se que a elegibilidade da terapia trombol&#237;tica em mulheres com infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio tamb&#233;m se fa&#231;a de maneira diferenciada. No <italic>Western Washington Emergency Department</italic>,somente 16% das mulheres contra 25% dos homens foram eleg&#237;veis para tromb&#243;lise, e entre os eleg&#237;veis, apenas 55% das mulheres (contra 78% dos homens), efetivamente, receberam esta medica&#231;&#227;o<sup>24</sup>.</p>
    <p>Outro fator importante a ser analisado &#233; a presen&#231;a de um fator biol&#243;gico espec&#237;fico do sexo feminino, talvez com substrato hormonal, que ocorre quando as mulheres entram na menopausa<sup>25,26</sup>. O reconhecimento deste fator biol&#243;gico poder&#225; levar &#224; identifica&#231;&#227;o de fatores modific&#225;veis e &#224; adequa&#231;&#227;o de condutas terap&#234;uticas, de forma a reduzir a mortalidade, ap&#243;s os 60 anos, no sexo feminino.</p>
    <p>Outros fatores psicossociais e comportamentais, &#237;ndice de massa corp&#243;rea, n&#237;vel socioecon&#244;mico, freq&#252;&#234;ncia de detec&#231;&#227;o e tratamento de doen&#231;as associadas, estresse psicol&#243;gico e o comportamento do paciente na busca de cuidados m&#233;dicos, tamb&#233;m poderiam estar contribuindo para as diferen&#231;as de mortalidade entre os sexos. O estudo destes fatores, bem como a influ&#234;ncia do tipo de interven&#231;&#227;o terap&#234;utica e as diferen&#231;as de letalidade hospitalar do infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio entre homens e mulheres, representam importantes quest&#245;es a serem estudadas em investiga&#231;&#245;es futuras.</p>
    <p>As limita&#231;&#245;es das estat&#237;sticas de sa&#250;de sempre est&#227;o presentes em qualquer estudo de mortalidade. A qualidade da informa&#231;&#227;o comprovada nos estudos de valida&#231;&#227;o dos &#243;bitos e a progressiva diminui&#231;&#227;o dos &#243;bitos classificados no cap&#237;tulo das causas mal definidas indicam melhora na qualidade das informa&#231;&#245;es. Mesmo com a melhora dos registros, recomenda-se que o porcentual de causas mal definidas n&#227;o deva ultrapassar 10%. Na cidade de Curitiba, a m&#233;dia para este grupo de causas, no per&#237;odo estudado, foi de 1,1%, mostrando uma boa qualidade das informa&#231;&#245;es de causas b&#225;sicas dos &#243;bitos, fornecendo dados confi&#225;veis para esta an&#225;lise<sup>1</sup>.</p>
    <p>Em conclus&#227;o, o estudo demonstra uma tend&#234;ncia de redu&#231;&#227;o da mortalidade por doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o em ambos os sexos, na cidade de Curitiba, de 1980 a 1998. No infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio, esta redu&#231;&#227;o vem ocorrendo de forma mais pronunciada nos homens, mantendo-se est&#225;vel a partir dos 60 anos nas mulheres. No restante das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas, a queda &#233; maior nas mulheres. As raz&#245;es para a tend&#234;ncia de redu&#231;&#227;o diferenciada entre os sexos n&#227;o s&#227;o claras, permanecendo como importante quest&#227;o para novas investiga&#231;&#245;es.</p>
    <p>Mesmo com a demonstra&#231;&#227;o de decl&#237;nio nas taxas de mortalidade das doen&#231;as isqu&#234;micas do cora&#231;&#227;o, as mesmas permanecem como principal causa de &#243;bito, merecendo uma aten&#231;&#227;o constante e priorit&#225;ria pelos profissionais de sa&#250;de e servi&#231;os p&#250;blicos na preven&#231;&#227;o prim&#225;ria e secund&#225;ria.</p>
    <p>
      <fn id="back10" fn-type="corresp">
        <label>
          <bold>Endere&#231;o para correspond&#234;ncia</bold>
        </label>
        <p> Edevar Daniel </p>
        <p> Rua Padre Camargo, 280 - 7&#186; </p>
        <p> 80060-240 - Curitiba, PR </p>
        <p> E-mail: </p>
        <p>
          <email xlink:href="edevardaniel@uol.com.br">edevardaniel@uol.com.br</email>
        </p>
      </fn>
    </p>
    <p>Recebido em 23/05/03 </p>
    <p> Aceito em 23/02/05</p>
  </body>
  <back>
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  <sub-article article-type="translation" id="TRen" xml:lang="en">
    <front-stub>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Original Article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Mortality trend due to ischemic heart diseases in the city of Curitiba - Brazil, from 1980 to 1998</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <abstract xml:lang="en">
        <p>OBJECTIVE: To assess mortality trends due to ischemic heart diseases, per sex, and acute myocardial infarction, per sex and age range, from 1980 to 1998, in the city of Curitiba. METHODS: Data of death due to ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction from Sistema de Informa&#231;&#227;o sobre Mortalidade do Minist&#233;rio da Sa&#250;de (Information System on Mortality of Ministry of Health), per sex, age range and domicile location in Curitiba were used. Population data were obtained from Funda&#231;&#227;o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics Foundation). Mortality rates were adjusted per age through direct method, by using the population of Curitiba, in 1980, as reference. The analysis of trend was calculated through simple linear regression, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Mortality rates due to ischemic heart diseases showed a decrease trend among both sexes. In age ranges of acute myocardial infarction, male sex showed a decrease until 79 years of age, among female sex individuals, the decrease was until 59 years of age. They were shown stable after those periods. Among the remaining ischemic diseases, female sex individuals showed a greater decrease than male sex ones. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates a trend of reduction of mortality due to ischemic heart diseases, in both sexes, in the city of Curitiba, from 1980 to 1998. In acute myocardial infarction, such reduction has been happening in a more pronounced way among men, achieving stability, from 60 years of age, among women. The reasons for differentiated reduction trend between sexes are not clear, remaining as na important matter for new investigations.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="en">
        <kwd>trend studies</kwd>
        <kwd>mortality</kwd>
        <kwd>ischemic heart diseases</kwd>
        <kwd>acute myocardial infarction</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </front-stub>
    <body>
      <p>
        <bold>ORIGINAL ARTICLE</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Mortality trend due to ischemic heart diseases in the city of Curitiba &#150; Brazil, from 1980 to 1998</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Edevar Daniel; Helio Germiniani; Eleusis Ronconi de Nazareno; Simone Viana Braga; Anderson Marcelo Winkler; Claudio L. Pereira da Cunha</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Universidade Federal do Paran&#225; - Curitiba, PR - Brazil</p>
      <p>
        <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="back10-body2">Correspondence</xref>
      </p>
      <p>
        <bold>ABSTRACT</bold>
      </p>
      <p><bold>OBJECTIVE: </bold>To assess mortality trends due to ischemic heart diseases, per sex, and acute myocardial infarction, per sex and age range, from 1980 to 1998, in the city of Curitiba.</p>
      <p><bold>METHODS: </bold> Data of death due to ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction from Sistema de Informa&#231;&#227;o sobre Mortalidade do Minist&#233;rio da Sa&#250;de (Information System on Mortality of Ministry of Health), per sex, age range and domicile location in Curitiba were used. Population data were obtained from Funda&#231;&#227;o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics Foundation). Mortality rates were adjusted per age through direct method, by using the population of Curitiba, in 1980, as reference. The analysis of trend was calculated through simple linear regression, with a significance level of 5%.</p>
      <p><bold>RESULTS: </bold>Mortality rates due to ischemic heart diseases showed a decrease trend among both sexes. In age ranges of acute myocardial infarction, male sex showed a decrease until 79 years of age, among female sex individuals, the decrease was until 59 years of age. They were shown stable after those periods. Among the remaining ischemic diseases, female sex individuals showed a greater decrease than male sex ones.</p>
      <p><bold>CONCLUSION: </bold>The study demonstrates a trend of reduction of mortality due to ischemic heart diseases, in both sexes, in the city of Curitiba, from 1980 to 1998. In acute myocardial infarction, such reduction has been happening in a more pronounced way among men, achieving stability, from 60 years of age, among women. The reasons for differentiated reduction trend between sexes are not clear, remaining as na important matter for new investigations.</p>
      <p><bold>Key words: </bold>trend studies; mortality; ischemic heart diseases; acute myocardial infarction</p>
      <p>Circulatory system diseases constitute the main cause of death in the country. In the city of Curitiba, in 1998, they represented 33.8% from total of deaths, being ischemic heart diseases (IHD) and, especially, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), their greatest component<sup>1</sup>.</p>
      <p>However, despite the magnitude, in the last 40 years, the trend of such taxes has decreased in countries as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and others of Western Europe, after a practically stationary period<sup>2</sup>.</p>
      <p>In Brazil, from the 1970s, some studies have shown the trend decrease of mortality due to ischemic heart disease<sup>3-9</sup>. Souza et al., after analysis of mortality due to ischemic heart diseases in the five Brazilian regions, from 1979 to 1996, concluded that the risk of death due to ischemic heart diseases is decreasing in the South and Southeast regions, but increasing in Central-West, Northeast and North regions<sup>7</sup>. Mansur et al., in the analysis of trend of death risk due to circulatory system diseases in Brazil, from 1979 to 1996, demonstrated that there has been a reduction in mortality due to ischemic heart diseases<sup>8</sup>.</p>
      <p>For Curitiba, Lolio et al. verified that mortality due to ischemic heart diseases remained stable, in the period from 1979 to 1989, both among men and women<sup>9</sup>. However, the 10-year period, which was assessed, preceded the incorporation of new knowledge on risk factors and intervention, which has been used more and more, such as thrombolytic therapy and primary angioplasty, in addition to new diagnostic and therapeutic advancements that have contributed to a better diagnosis of patients with ischemic heart disease.</p>
      <p>Besides those factors, the population of the city of Curitiba has increased in that period. In 1980, the population was 1,024,975 inhabitants; in 1998, 1,550,317, which shows an increase of 51%<sup>10,11</sup>. Its age composition also changed, with an increase of aged individuals.</p>
      <p>Concerning mortality, in 1980, IHD represented 12.1% and AMI, 7.9% from the total of deaths, whereas, in 1998, IHD represented 12.8% and AMI, 9.0% from total of deaths. By assessing those data, the need for a study along the time (trend), which took into consideration the adjustment of mortality rate per age (age range) was verified.</p>
      <p>Within such perspective, this study aimed at assessing the trend of mortality due to ischemic heart diseases, per sex, and to acute myocardial infarction, per sex and age range, from 1980 to 1998, in the city of Curitiba.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Methods</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Data from deaths due to acute myocardial infarction and the remaining ischemic heart diseases were available in the Sistema de Informa&#231;&#227;o sobre Mortalidade do Minist&#233;rio da Sa&#250;de (Datasus), per sex, age range and domicile location, in Curitiba, classified in 410-414 (CID-9) and I20-I25 (CID-10) groups<sup>12,13</sup>. Population data were obtained from Funda&#231;&#227;o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica, being sex and age range used as denominators, according to estimates for the period from 1980 to 1998.</p>
      <p>Mortality due to acute myocardial infarction was also analyzed per age ranges, between 30 and 80 years old or older, grouped in 10-year intervals, so there would be compatibility with age range classification of deaths shown in DATASUS.</p>
      <p>Mortality rates were adjusted per age, through direct method, by suing age range composition in the city of Curitiba, in 1980, as reference.</p>
      <p>Rate trend in the study period, per sex and age range, was calculated through simple linear regression and the explainable total variance proportion, through linear method, expressed in R&#178; (it may vary from 1 to 0), being that, the closer it is from 1, it shows a strong trend rate and the closer it is from 0, it shows a weak trend rate. In the equations of straight lines (y=bx+a), which are going to be shown, "x" had the minimum value of 0, in 1980, and the maximum of 18, in 1998. The "b" value, which multiplies "x" in each equation, is the coefficient of straight line incline: the greater "b" module is, the more inclined the straight line is. Negative values of "b" indicate downward inclination (decrease). Hypothesis test were run with a significance level of 5% (p&lt;0.05).</p>
      <p>The percentage of yearly variation was calculated from (b/a)x100 rate.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Results</bold>
      </p>
      <p><xref ref-type="table" rid="en_25311t1-body2">Table I</xref> shows mortality coefficients (/100000) per sex, from the total of ischemic heart diseases, which start with 98.4 for male sex individuals, and 62.9, for female sex ones, in 1980, going to 66.1 among male sex individuals, and 43.4, among female sex individuals, in 1998. In acute myocardial infarction, with 70.8 for male sex individuals and 34.4, for female sex individuals, in 1980, and going to 48.3 among male sex patients and 30.3, among female sex ones, in 1998. In remaining ischemic heart diseases, with 27.6 for male sex patients and 28.5 for female sex ones, in 1980, going to 17.7 among male sex individuals and 13.1 among female sex ones, in 1998.</p>
      <p content-type="asset">
        <table-wrap id="en_25311t1-body2">
          <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gt01-en.jpg"/></table-wrap>
      </p>
      <p>Male/female rate of ischemic heart diseases was kept stable, beginning with 1.6, in 1980, and decreasing to 1.5, in 1998. In acute myocardial infarction, mortality coefficient reduction was more pronounced among male sex individuals, in which male/female rate, which started with 2.1, in 1980, went down to 1.6, in 1998. In remaining ischemic heart diseases, there was a higher decrease trend among women, in which male/female rate, which started with 1.0, in 1980, rose to 1.4, in 1998.</p>
      <p>In <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1-body2">figure 1</xref>, it is verified that ischemic heart diseases showed a significant reduction for both sexes (p&lt;0.05). male sex showed a strong decrease trend (R&#178;=0.76), and the female sex, a medium decrease trend (R&#178;=0.54).</p>
      <fig id="fig1-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf01-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>In <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2-body2">figure 2</xref>, in acute myocardial infarction group, which represents the largest number of deaths, there was a reduction among both sexes (p&lt;0.05), and the reduction was much more pronounced among male sex individuals (R&#178;=0.73) than among female sex ones, which showed a lower reduction (R&#178;=0.29).</p>
      <fig id="fig2-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf02-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>In <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3-body2">figure 3</xref>, in remaining ischemic heart diseases there was a reduction for both sexes (p&lt;0.05). Among female sex individuals, the reduction is medium (R&#178;=0.50), whereas it is lower (R&#178;=0.27) among male sex ones. In specific coefficients of mortality due to acute myocardial infarction, per sex and age range, it was verified that male sex individuals show reduction up to age range from 70 to 79 years old (p&lt;0.05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4-body2">figs. 4</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5-body2">5</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6-body2">6</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7-body2">7</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8-body2">8</xref>), keeping stable in the age range over 80 years old (p&gt;0.05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9-body2">fig. 9</xref>). Among female sex individuals, it was verified a reduction up to the age range from 50 to 59 years old (p&lt;0.05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4-body2">figs. 4</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5-body2">5</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6-body2">6</xref>), keeping stable from the age range from 60 to 69 years old to age range of 80 years old and older (p&gt;0.05) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7-body2">figs. 7</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8-body2">8</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9-body2">9</xref>).</p>
      <fig id="fig3-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf03-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig4-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf04-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig5-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf05-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig6-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf06-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig7-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf07-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig8-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf08-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig9-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0100-00005-gf09-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>Linear straight lines show a decrease trend, whose intensity can be assessed through values of beta, R&#178;, p and yearly%. As an example, the equation of total of IHD, among male sex individuals (y=-1.7522 +103.29), says that, from 1980 (x=0), for each change unit in x (from 1 to 16), the rate reduced in -1.7522, on average (starting from 103.29), leading to a decrease trend of the straight line, which shows an R&#178;=0.76 (regarded as strong, as it is close to 1). By expressing in percentage, that yearly reduction was -1.7% (1.7522/103.29x100). the same principle is valid for all other straight lines.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Discussion</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Results shown allowed for identifying a reduction of mortality coefficients, adjusted per age, in acute myocardial infarction and remaining ischemic diseases, which shows a reduction of ischemic heart diseases, in both sexes, in the city of Curitiba, from 1980 to 1998.</p>
      <p>Such reduction in both sexes can be partly explained by a better contribution of medical care, as well as of primary prevention measures for those diseases, as explanatory variables for the observed decrease of their mortality rates. Goldman and Cook detected that 60% from the decrease of mortality due to ischemic heart disease, observed for the United States, between 1968 and 1976, was related to changes in lifestyle, especially smoking reduction, whereas 40% was due to specific medical interventions on those diseases<sup>14,15</sup>.</p>
      <p>Among the many studies already carried out in Brazil, the accurate participation of factors involved in the determination of mortality decrease due to ischemic heart diseases <sup>3-8</sup> is still unknown. The absence of studies for risk or protection factors or for the incidence of that disease, as well as analytical studies that can test their association between mortality, limit desired explanations for the observed decrease.</p>
      <p>However, it may be considered, for the city of Curitiba, that the improvement of medical care quality, with an increase of populational coverage by hypertension and diabetes mellitus control programs from Secretaria Municipal de Sa&#250;de (Local Health Secretariat)<sup>16</sup>, in educational prevention campaigns, in the introduction of new diagnostic resources, coronary units, angioplasties, thrombolysis and myocardial revascularizations must be contributing for a mortality decrease.</p>
      <p>Regarding age ranges in acute myocardial infarction, we verified that there was a reduction trend up to the age range from 70 to 79 years old (p&lt;0.05) among male sex individuals, which was kept stable after that period. In female sex patients, we verified a reduction up to the age range from 50 to 59 years old (p&lt;0.05). There was no significant reduction after that period (p&gt;0.05).</p>
      <p>Data show that mortality coefficient decrease trend, attributed to acute myocardial infarction, has been occurring in a more pronounced way among men than women, in the age over 60 years old, did not show reduction, which indicated that mortality among men showed a trend of getting closer to mortality rate among women.</p>
      <p>Difference in mortality decrease between sexes and the non-reduction of mortality rate after 60 years of age among women, were a clear confirmation in this work. Some studies, after adjustment for all risk and age variables, have showed that in-hospital lethality due to acute myocardial infarction and stable angina is higher among women than among men<sup>17-20</sup>.</p>
      <p>Among potential explanations, differences between men and women must be considered in the control of coronary risk factors along the time. Men are traditionally recognized as having higher risk. Late arrival after the beginning of chest pains, undervaluation or denial of symptoms, atypical initial clinical records of acute myocardial infarction in women who seek coronary units could be the other possible explanations for mortality difference between sexes.</p>
      <p>Unequal hospital handling could also be responsible for the difference between mortality coefficients. It has been described that women are less aggressive approached than men, from the lowest probability of admission in coronary unit to the reference concerning the use of coronary angiography, even that ischemia probability is equal among men and women<sup>21-23</sup>. It has been suggested that eligibility of thrombolytic therapy among women with acute myocardial infarction is also done in a differentiated manner. In Western Washington Emergency Department,only 16% form women, against 25% from men were eligible for thrombolysis and, among the eligible individuals, only 55% of women (against 78% of men), had effectively received that medication<sup>24</sup>.</p>
      <p>Another important factor to be analyzed is the presence of a specific biological factor of female sex, maybe with hormonal substrate, which takes place when women enter menopause<sup>25,26</sup>. Recognition of such biological fact will lead to the identification of modifiable factors and adjustment of therapeutic conducts, in a way to reduce mortality, after 60 years of age, among female sex individuals.</p>
      <p>Another psychosocial and behavioral factors, body mass index, socioeconomic level, frequency of detection and treatment of associated diseases, psychological stress and the behavior of the patient seeking for medical care, could also be contributing for mortality differences between sexes. The study of those factors, as well as the influence from the type of therapeutic intervention and differences of in-hospital lethality of acute myocardial infarction among men and women, represent important matters to be studied in future investigations.</p>
      <p>Limitations of healthcare statistics are always present in any mortality study. The quality of proven information in death validation studies and the progressive decrease of deaths classified in the chapter of badly-defined causes, indicate an improvement in information quality. Even with record improvement, it is recommended that the percentage of badly-defined causes should not exceed 10%. In the city of Curitiba, the mean for that group of causes, within the studied period, was 1.1%, which showed a good information quality of basic death causes, supplying reliable data for that analysis<sup>1</sup>.</p>
      <p>In conclusion, the study demonstrates a trend of reduction of mortality due to ischemic heart diseases in both sexes, in the city of Curitiba, from 1980 to 1998. In acute myocardial infarction, that reduction has happened more pronouncedly among men, keeping stable from 60 years of age in women. In the remaining ischemic diseases, the decrease is higher among women. The reasons for the differentiated reduction trend between sexes are not clear, remaining as an important matter for new investigations.</p>
      <p>Even with the demonstration of decrease in mortality rates of ischemic heart diseases, they remain as the main cause of death, deserving a constant and prioritized attention by healthcare and public service professionals in primary and secondary prevention.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>References</bold>
      </p>
      <p>
        <fn id="back10-body2" fn-type="corresp">
          <label>
            <bold>Correspondence to</bold>
          </label>
          <p> Edevar Daniel</p>
          <p> Rua Padre Camargo, 280 - 7&#186;</p>
          <p> 80060-240 - Curitiba, PR - Brazil</p>
          <p> E-mail: </p>
          <p>
            <email xlink:href="edevardaniel@uol.com.br">edevardaniel@uol.com.br</email>
          </p>
        </fn>
      </p>
      <p>Received for publishing on 05/23/03</p>
      <p> Accepted on 02/23/05</p>
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  </sub-article>
</article>
