title: Cardiovascular Health in Brazil: Trends and Perspectives.
abstract: Brazil is a large country, with an evolving economy, but marked social inequalities. The population is formed by an admixture of native Brazilians, Europeans, and Africans; is predominantly urban; and faces rapid aging. Time trends related to health behaviors show a substantial reduction in smoking rates, but a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and insufficient physical activity. The high prevalence of hypertension and the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus are also causes for concern. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the leading cause of mortality since the 1960s and has accounted for a substantial percentage of all hospitalizations. In 2011, CVD was responsible for 31% of all deaths, with ischemic heart disease (31%) and cerebrovascular diseases (30%) being the leading CVD causes. Despite an increase in the overall number of CVD deaths, the age-adjusted mortality rates for CVD declined 24% between 2000 and 2011. Health care delivered by Brazil's universal public health system, which focuses on primary prevention, has contributed to this achievement. However, the decline in age-adjusted mortality differs according to race, sex, and socioeconomic status with black individuals and lower-income populations sustaining the greatest impact of CVD, especially at younger ages. With one of the world's largest public health systems in terms of population coverage, Brazil has the means to implement actions to confront the high burden of CVD, focusing on health promotion and comprehensive care. Insufficient funding, low education levels, and social inequalities remain as the main barriers to be overcome.
authors.affiliation: From Hospital das Clínicas and School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (A.L.P.R., L.C.C.B., S.M.B.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (B.B.D.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L.); Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil (J.G.M.); and ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study (A.L.P.R., B.B.D., L.C.C.B., P.A.L. J.G.M, S.M.B.). tom@hc.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Antonio Luiz P
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: From Hospital das Clínicas and School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (A.L.P.R., L.C.C.B., S.M.B.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (B.B.D.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L.); Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil (J.G.M.); and ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study (A.L.P.R., B.B.D., L.C.C.B., P.A.L. J.G.M, S.M.B.).
authors.forename: Bruce B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: From Hospital das Clínicas and School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (A.L.P.R., L.C.C.B., S.M.B.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (B.B.D.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L.); Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil (J.G.M.); and ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study (A.L.P.R., B.B.D., L.C.C.B., P.A.L. J.G.M, S.M.B.).
authors.forename: Luisa C C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Brant
authors.affiliation: From Hospital das Clínicas and School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (A.L.P.R., L.C.C.B., S.M.B.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (B.B.D.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L.); Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil (J.G.M.); and ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study (A.L.P.R., B.B.D., L.C.C.B., P.A.L. J.G.M, S.M.B.).
authors.forename: Paulo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lotufo
authors.affiliation: From Hospital das Clínicas and School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (A.L.P.R., L.C.C.B., S.M.B.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (B.B.D.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L.); Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil (J.G.M.); and ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study (A.L.P.R., B.B.D., L.C.C.B., P.A.L. J.G.M, S.M.B.).
authors.forename: José Geraldo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mill
authors.affiliation: From Hospital das Clínicas and School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (A.L.P.R., L.C.C.B., S.M.B.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (B.B.D.); Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L.); Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil (J.G.M.); and ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study (A.L.P.R., B.B.D., L.C.C.B., P.A.L. J.G.M, S.M.B.).
authors.forename: Sandhi M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barreto
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Brazil; epidemiology; health policy; mortality; risk factors