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Introduction The adoption of unhealthy western lifestyles has contributed to changes in mortality patterns in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate associated causes of death in older men in a medium-size Brazilian city. Methods The study was based on a cohort of 2859 older men living in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, followed from 2006 to 2010. All death certificates were retrieved from the Mortality Information System of the city. Underlying and associated causes of death were coded according to the 10th International Classification of Diseases. Results There were 298 deaths and mean age at death was 73.4 years. Diseases of the circulatory system (I00–I99) corresponded to 108 (36.2%) deaths and its major associated causes were other circulatory diseases, diseases of the respiratory system (J00–J99) and infectious and parasitic diseases (A00–B99). Neoplasms corresponded to 65 deaths (21.8%) and predominant associated causes were respiratory diseases, mainly pneumonias, and infectious and parasitic diseases. Diseases of the respiratory system corresponded to 44 (14.8%) deaths and infectious and parasitic diseases were the main associated cause. These three groups comprised 72.8% of the underlying causes in the cohort. Conclusion Circulatory and respiratory diseases and neoplasms were major causes of mortality in this cohort and also represent an important public health problem in Brazil. The influence of a westernised life style is probably reflected in this pattern of chronic diseases. Although not as important, infectious and parasitic diseases are still present as associated causes and likely worsening health conditions in this cohort. |
