[Smoking and mortality fro ischemic heart disease. Comparative study in capitals of Brazilian metropolitan regions, 1988].

PURPOSE

An ecological study was performed to test the association between coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality and smoking in Brazil. Lung cancer mortality was used as a surrogate for smoking habit.

METHODS

The mortality rate for CHD (ICD-9:410-414) and lung cancer (ICD-9: 162) were determined in the following metropolitan areas: Belém, Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Curitiba and Porto Alegre for males and females between 30 and 69 year old. ANOVA test was used to compare both age-adjusted mortality rates.

RESULTS

A positive association by ANOVA was determined only for males ages 60-69 and to age-adjusted rates.

CONCLUSION

The relationship between smoking and CHD mortality as determined in Brazilian cities, among men, mainly in the older ages, is a proof that tobacco control would contribute to downward trends in CHD mortality rates.