[Deaths with leprosy as the underlying cause recorded in Brazil: use of data base linkage to enhance information].
This study sought to describe the characteristics of deaths with leprosy as the underlying cause recorded in the Mortality Information System (SIM) and compare these characteristics with the groups of cases where the cause of death was reported, or failed to be reported, in the National Case Registration Database (Sinan). Deaths with leprosy as the underlying cause occurring in Brazil in the 2004-2009 period, and cases of leprosy from 1975 to 2010 were included. The probabilistic bases of SIM and Sinan were compared. Of the 1,463 deaths from leprosy recorded in SIM, 44.2% were not recorded in Sinan. Of the total number of deaths, the majority were men (72.5%), aged 60 or older (56.6%), occurring in hospitals (65.3%) and with due care (45.8%). Of the 820 deaths identified in Sinan, 92% were patients with multibacillary disease, 45.2% were discharged as cured by Sinan and 38.9% died. Deaths due to leprosy were found on SIM that were not notified to Sinan. The data base linkage enabled identification of ancillary records and inconsistencies between the systems.
Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, DF, Brasil, margarida.rocha@saude.gov.br.
Margarida Cristiana Napoleão
MC
Rocha
Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde, Coordenadoria Geral de Informação e Análise Epidemiológica.
Raquel Barbosa
RB
de Lima
Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde, Coordenadoria Geral de Informação e Análise Epidemiológica.
Antony
A
Stevens
Departamento de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, UnB.
Maria Margarita Urdaneta
MM
Gutierrez
Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, DF, Brasil, margarida.rocha@saude.gov.br.
Leila Posenato
LP
Garcia
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007256:Information Systems / Q000592:standards; D007918:Leprosy / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult