title: Comparative study of cardiovascular and cancer mortality of Adventists and non-Adventists from Espírito Santo State, in the period from 2003 to 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Populations with healthier habits have been investigated regarding their pattern of disease occurrence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims at evaluating mortality patterns (all-cause, cardiovascular diseases) among members of the Seventh-day Adventists Church in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, and to compare those with the mortality rates in the State population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study investigated 14.519 living Adventists and 995 deaths among those aged ≥ 30 years old from 2003 to 2009. A total of 896 deaths were confirmed by the Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated utilizing the indirect method, with the state population ≥ 30 years old as the standard population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adventists presented all-cause mortality rate 42.5% lower than the Espírito Santo population (SMR = 57.5; 95%CI 47.8 - 68.2), 52.2% lower by ischemic heart disease (SMR = 48; 95%CI 25.02 - 82,75) and 46.3% less by stroke (SMR = 54; 95%CI 30.4 - 87.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Adventists' healthier lifestyle in relation to diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption may have influenced their lower mortality rates.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabete Regina Araújo
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nágela Valadão
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Cade
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, São Mateus, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Costa
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Velten
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gulnar Azevedo E
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faerstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D033303:Protestantism; D013997:Time Factors