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COVID-19 mortality in Brazil: an analysis of multiple causes of death

Ana Maria Nogales Vasconcelos, Universidade de Brasilia
Elisabeth França, Faculdade de Medicina/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Daisy Maria Abreu, GPEAS/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Lenice Ishitani, GPEAS/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Juan Cortéz-Escalante, Pan American Health Organization

The objective of the present communication is to discuss the quality of data on causes of death (CoD) and to describe and understand the morbid process of COVID-19 mortality in Brazil. We used the Ministry of Health's mortality information system (SIM) microdata and a multiple-cause-of-death approach, including all conditions, diseases, and injuries mentioned on the death certificate. In 2020, 1,531,524 deaths were reported in SIM, of which 206,646 (14%) were due to COVID. It represents an increase of 181,994 (13.5%) to 2019. The most frequent chain-of-event causes on the death certificate were lower respiratory infections, mostly pneumonia (46.5%), followed by acute respiratory failure (35,1%) and sepsis (25,2). Contributing causes were hypertension (30,3%) and diabetes mellitus (25,2%). A significant increase in several components of the chain of events of COVID and in some other chronic diseases considered to be contributing causes was verified. This increase calls attention to the probable under-registration of COVID-19 deaths. With the contribution of the multiple-cause-of-death approach, we can better comprehend the morbid process of COVID-19 mortality in Brazil. But it is essential that certifier physicians report correct and ultimately all causes that led to death.

Keywords: COVID-19, Mortality, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), Health and morbidity

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session 129. Direct and Indirect Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic