Lúcia Rolim Santana de Freitas, Statistical Methods Editor of the Journal Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde: revista do SUS, teacher at the Universidade de Brasília (UnB) Faculty of Medicine, Brasília, Brazil.
Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years old in developing countries. This condition results in school absenteeism, increased medical appointments in the first year of life and poorer quality of life. In 2020, 4.2 million children under the age of 5 were estimated to have died from ARIs, accounting for 13% of all deaths among children in this age group. In Brazil, ARIs are the main cause of hospital admission among children in this age range.
The objective of the article published in the journal Epidemiology and Health Services: Journal of the Brazilian National Health System (Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde: revista do SUS – RESS, vol. 32, n. 3), entitled Temporal trend of mortality from infectious respiratory diseases in childhood in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2000-2020, was to analyze temporal trends in mortality due to infectious respiratory illness in children under 12 years old in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2000 to 2020.
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The results of the study demonstrated a trend over time of reduction in the frequency of deaths from infectious respiratory illnesses in children, even in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deaths in this group were analyzed based on records from the Mortality Information System (Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade – SIM). The authors considered variables such as etiological agent, anatomical site of infection and sex. Trends were analyzed using joinpoint regression.
During the study period, 4,688 deaths were recorded. The authors highlighted that the majority of deaths from respiratory infections occurred due to lower respiratory tract infections. The trend of proportional mortality due to these infections decreased in 2020, while there was an increase in systemic infections. Mortality due to respiratory illnesses affected both sexes, being slightly more predominant in males.
This study highlighted the importance of public policies aimed at maternal and child health and the crucial role of Primary Health Care in the prevention and timely treatment of respiratory illnesses among children. Furthermore, the study highlighted the need to improve SIM records in order to achieve a better understanding of infant mortality in Brazil.
To read the article, access
MOURA, D.N.A.E, et al. Tendência temporal da mortalidade por doenças respiratórias infecciosas na infância, em Minas Gerais, 2000-2020. Epidemiol e Serviços Saúde [online]. 2023, vol. 32, no. 3, e2022796 [viewed 10 January 2024]. https://doi.org/10.1590/S2237-96222023000300006.PT. Available from: https://www.scielo.br/j/ress/a/Kyj93cdNXxVX6mCCJxS3Zyk/
References
World Health Organization. Global report on infection prevention and control [online]. Geneva: WHO, 2022 [viewed 10 January 2024]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240051164
External links Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde – RESS: https://www.scielo.br/ress Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde – Site: http://ress.iec.gov.br/