Trends in mortality from heart failure in Brazil: 1998 to 2019

Objective: To analyze the trend of mortality from heart failure in Brazilians aged 50 years and over, within 21 years. Methods: Ecological study with time series analysis of mortality from heart failure in Brazil, according to regions and Federation Units, in individuals aged 50 years or older in the period from 1998 to 2019. Deaths that had heart failure as the underlying cause (coded as I50 according to the International Classification of Diseases) that occurred during the study period were included in the study. Data were obtained from the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Statistical analyses were performed using the Stata 11.1 program, by estimating the mortality rate due to heart failure per 100 thousand inhabitants. In the trend analysis, the Prais-Winsten regression was used. Results: Between 1998 and 2019, 567,789 deaths from heart failure were recorded in adults aged over 50 years, which corresponds to an average rate of 75.5 per 100 thousand inhabitants. There was a downward trend per sex, regions, and in 23 Federation Units. The highest mortality rates were observed for older ages in all regions of the country. Conclusion: The trend in mortality rates from heart failure among Federation Units and Brazilian regions was downward over 21 years. There was an upward trend in mortality from heart failure in the northern region and in the category "other health facilities."