Chronic hepatitis C mortality in Brazil from 2000 to 2019: An analysis of multiple causes of death.

INTRODUCTION

Conventional mortality statistics that concentrate only on the underlying cause of death may offer a limited view of the complexity of this condition and not fully capture the true extent of mortality from hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE

To describe and analyze deaths due to chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Brazil, as both a underlying and multiple cause of death, from 2000 to 2019.

METHODS

This ecological study used data extracted from the Mortality Information System and descriptively analyzed causes of death and sociodemographic variables for the deceased.

RESULTS

During 2000-2019 there were 33,115 deaths with CHC listed on any line of the death certificate, and 25,390 (76.67 %) with CHC mentioned as the underlying cause. The authors found CHC mortality was underenumerated by 30.42 %, considering that 7725 death certificates mentioned this disease as an associated cause. Of these, liver cancer was reported as the underlying cause of 6510 deaths (84.27 %). When CHC was listed as the underlying cause, illnesses of the digestive tract were often associated with these deaths. The total number of deaths in which CHC was one of the multiple causes listed occurred predominantly in men, white people, aged 60 or over and with 12 or more years of education.

CONCLUSION

An under-enumeration of mortality from CHC in Brazil was observed from 2000 to 2019, due to the inadequate classification of causes of death on the death certificates. Reviewing the processes of completing death certificates and coding causes is strongly recommended to obtain a more precise indicator of hepatitis C mortality.