[Occupation and mortality in the Brazilian Navy].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the distribution of mortality due to digestive tract, genitourinary and nervous system diseases according to occupation among Brazilian Navy servicemen.


METHODS
This was an exploratory study of proportional mortality among male servicemen in the Brazilian Navy who died between 1991 and 1995. The study population comprises the entire contingent of servicemen during this same time period. Data were obtained from death certificates submitted in order to obtain dependents' pensions, and from the corresponding occupational histories of these individuals. Basic causes of death were coded in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision).


RESULTS
Servicemen presented increased proportional mortality for liver diseases related to alcohol consumption (age-adjusted proportional mortality ratio, PMRadj=2.03; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.26-3.00), pancreatitis (PMRadj=2.03; 95% CI: 1.06-3.38), digestive hemorrhage (PMRadj=1.61; 95% CI: 1.10-2.23), chronic kidney diseases (PMRadj=2.82; 95% CI: 1.98-3.84), Parkinson's disease (PMRadj=3.00; 95% CI: 1.27-5.72) and degenerative brain diseases (PMRadj=2.88; 95% CI: 1.14-5.70), in relation to the reference population. A statistically non-significant association was observed between radar operators (PMR=6.50; 95% CI: 1.43-29.56) and nervous system diseases was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate the existence of possible occupational risk factors in the working environment of the Brazilian Navy, and the need for studies using quantitative measurement of such exposure.
Silva
Marlene
M
Fundação para o Desenvolvimento das Ciências, Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Bahia, BA, Brazil. marlenes@ufba.br
Santana
Vilma Sousa
VS
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003644:Death Certificates; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors