[Spatial analysis of hospitalization for heart diseases in Vale do Paraíba].
BACKGROUND
Ischemic heart diseases (IHD) are important causes of death in the Vale do Paraíba paulista.


OBJECTIVE
To identify patterns of spatial distribution of hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and IHD in the Vale do Paraíba paulista.


METHODS
This was an ecological study using exploratory spatial analysis of hospitalization data for acute myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease in the Vale do Paraíba between 2004 and 2005. The statistical analysis used spatial georeferenced databases of 35 municipalities and spatial statistics routines. The admission data were obtained from the Portal Datasus of the Ministry of Health. The variables were the number of admissions for males and females aged over 30 years. To evaluate the spatial dependence we used the autocorrelation coefficients of Global Moran and Local Moran's index. We also analyzed the correlations between variables, using the TerraView program. The level of significance was 5%.


RESULTS
Among 6,287 admissions, the rates were 161.66/100 thousand. Of the total of 35 municipalities, 31.4% had rates above average. The coefficient of Moran (global) showed a statistical significance. Local indexes showed clusters, indicating a cluster of 9 municipalities in which there was spatial dependence with their own dynamics.


CONCLUSIONS
In the mid Vale do Paraíba paulista, the spatial analysis identified spatial clusters of hospitalizations due to acute myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease, allowing intervention to reduce rates. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2007;88(6):624-628).
Soares
Paula A
PA
Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Taubaté, SP, Brazil.
Nascimento
Luiz Fernando C
LF
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors