Infant mortality in Brazil and deaths from acute myocardial infarction in the same generation

Abstract

Low birth weight is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which constitute the main causes of death both in Brazil and worldwide. High infant mortality rates are associated with low birth weight. The aim of this study was to compare mortality from acute myocardial infarction in 2000 in the Northeast and South of Brazil, regions with different infant mortality rates from 1930 to 1950. Mortality from acute myocardial infarction was higher in southern Brazil, with an adjusted coefficient per 100,000 of 60.8 in males and 41.2 in females (South) versus 26.4 in males and 19.2 in females (Northeast). Similar results were found for lung cancer: 22.8 in males and 8.9 in females (South) versus 5.3 in males and 2.8 in females (Northeast). The persistence of different socioeconomic conditions and infant mortality rates between the two regions and the fact that the phenomenon of infant mortality reduction in Brazil has not been translated into important improvements in quality of life impeded an evaluation of the impact of low birth weight on mortality from acute myocardial infarction in this study.