Mortality by Influenza-Related Causes in the Elderly in Brazil, from 1992 to 2005

This is a time-series ecological study aiming to analyze the mortality due to influenza-related respiratory diseases among people aged 60 or over in Brazil (1992-2005), using secondary data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The mortality rates were stratified by year, month, sex, age group, and regions. Capital cities were aggregated by region. Rates were standardized using the direct method (standard population: Brazil - Census 2000). Mortality rates bad an increased trend as the study population grew older Higher values were also observed among males in all age groups and among individuals living in the Southern, Southeastern and Midwestern regions. Complementary studies are necessary to analyze trends of mortality rates, as well as to extend the debate on the effectiveness of influenza vaccination.