title: Mortality from neglected tropical diseases in Brazil, 2000-2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe mortality from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Brazil, 2000-2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extracted information on cause of death, age, sex, ethnicity and place of residence from the nationwide mortality information system at the Brazilian Ministry of Health. We selected deaths in which the underlying cause of death was a neglected tropical disease (NTD), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and based on its International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes. For specific NTDs, we estimated crude and age-adjusted mortality rates and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We calculated crude and age-adjusted mortality rates and mortality rate ratios by age, sex, ethnicity and geographic area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the 12-year study period, 12 491 280 deaths were recorded; 76 847 deaths (0.62%) were caused by NTDs. Chagas disease was the most common cause of death (58 928 deaths; 76.7%), followed by schistosomiasis (6319 deaths; 8.2%) and leishmaniasis (3466 deaths; 4.5%). The average annual age-adjusted mortality from all NTDs combined was 4.30 deaths per 100 000 population (95% CI: 4.21-4.40). Rates were higher in males: 4.98 deaths per 100 000; people older than 69 years: 33.12 deaths per 100 000; Afro-Brazilians: 5.25 deaths per 100 000; and residents in the central-west region: 14.71 deaths per 100 000.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NTDs are important causes of death and are a significant public health problem in Brazil. There is a need for intensive integrated control measures in areas of high morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Professor Costa Mendes, 1608, 5. andar, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-140 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil .
authors.forename: Francisco Rogerlândio
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Martins-Melo
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Professor Costa Mendes, 1608, 5. andar, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-140 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil .
authors.forename: Alberto Novaes
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Professor Costa Mendes, 1608, 5. andar, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-140 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil .
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Professor Costa Mendes, 1608, 5. andar, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-140 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil .
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heukelbach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult