ABC | Volume 114, Nº2, February 2020

Short Editorial Death from Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease between Two Brazils Sílvia Marinho Martins 1, 2 Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco (PROCAPE), Ambulatório de Doença de Dhagas e Insuficiência Cardíaca, 1 Recife, PE – Brazil Real Hospital Portugues de Beneficencia em Pernambuco (Realcor), 2 Recife, PE – Brazil Short Editorial related to the article: Trends in Mortality Rates from Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer between 2000 and 2015 in the Most Populous Capital Cities of the Five Regions of Brazil Mailing Address: Sílvia Marinho Martins • Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco (PROCAPE), Ambulatório de Doença de Chagas e Insuficiência Cardíaca. Rua Alvares de Azevedo, 220, Santo Amaro. Postal Code 50100-040, Recife, PE – Brazil E-mail: s.m.martins@uol.com.br Keywords Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality; Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology; Neoplasms/mortality; Epidemiology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20200017 Introduction Population aging has been represented as one of the main global trends in future prospects, and Brazil is increasingly becoming established within this scenario. While life expectancy is estimated to be over 83 years in countries like Japan, Switzerland, and Spain, in others such as Nigeria and Somalia individuals reach an average age of 55. In 2018, life expectancy was estimated at 71 years in Brazil. 1 The relationship between health and development is quite complex, and it presents countless interactions. Both life expectancy and main causes of death appear as indicators of a region or a country’s quality of life. They are signs of lifestyle (and advice regarding adequate change), preventative healthcare services provided to the community and advances in diagnostic techniques. 2 Health conditions are influenced by the socio-economic environment, given that higher indicators of income and educational level manifest as adoption of healthier lifestyle habits and, naturally, access to more effective treatment. 3 In the past, communicable diseases represented the leading cause of death. In low-income countries, 52% of deaths were caused by communicable diseases, conditions resulting from pregnancy and childbirth, and other issues related to nutritional deficiencies. In contrast, in high-income countries, these causes accounted for at most 7% of deaths. 4 It is estimated that, by 2030, most countries will have made the much acclaimed epidemiological transition and have profiles with a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Relationship between economic development and cardiovascular mortality In 2016, of the 56.9 million deaths that occurred worldwide, ischemic heart disease and stroke were the two leading causes, and they have remained the main causes of global death over the past 15 years. It is, nonetheless, worth emphasizing that causes of mortality vary according to countries’ wealth patterns. 4 A recent publication presents data from a prospective, multicenter study involving 155,722 participants from 21 different countries, which evaluated risk factors and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Countries were stratified according to level of economic development. It was observed that the majority of diseases and deaths related to the cardiovascular system could be attributed to a small number of modifiable risk factors, some with important effects, others varying by the countries’ economic levels. The study emphasizes, moreover, that health policies should concentrate on specific risk factors. For example, low educational level’s association with CVD and death was strongly identified in countries with low to medium economic development. In developed countries, 70% of CVD were attributed to modifiable risk factors (with the exception of environmental pollution), with the important contribution of metabolic risk factors and tobacco use. In undeveloped countries, 80% of diseases and deaths due to cardiovascular etiology were attributed to modifiable risk factors, with the important contribution of metabolic factors, environmental pollution, and poor diet. Level of education’s association with death is even stronger than its association with wealth. From early childhood onward, education affects multiple living conditions, including living and working in healthier environments and greater access to health services. It is worth reiterating that improvements in education will likely decrease the number of deaths from different conditions, indicating that investments in this area could bring wide reaching benefits to health. 5 Socioeconomic aspects of the incidence of malignant neoplasms The prevalence of cancer is relevant worldwide. In 2018, on the global level, one in every six deaths was related to this group of diseases. Malignant neoplasms are also responsible for approximately 70% of deaths in low- and middle-income countries. 6 Some Western countries have managed to control the incidence of determined types of cancer by reducing the prevalence of classic risk factors, as well as by early detection and appropriate treatment. However, lung, breast, and cervical neoplasms continue to increase significantly, due to risk factors typical in Western countries, such as tobacco use, obesity, sedentarism, and changing reproductive patterns. Organs such as the stomach, liver, and cervix also continue to present high morbidity related to infection. Countries with high economic development continue to present high incidences of lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer. What are distinct, however, are the mortality rates; while there is a reduction in the number of deaths 207