COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DEATHS FROM ILL-DEFINED AND UNKNOWN CAUSES BEFORE AND DURING THE SARSCOV-2 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Documenting the cause of death is important to know the health situation of the population. After the beginning of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, institutional protocols were created to minimize the spread of the virus, including changes in the handling of bodies. The main objective of this study was to identify whether there was a change in the number of deaths from unknown to ill-defined causes comparing two years before the pandemic and two years during the pandemic in Brazil and the state of Rio de Janeiro and to determine the main epidemiological characteristics. A documentary, retrospective, and historical study were carried out based on data collection in the mortality information system from 2018 to 2021. The period was divided into two phases to make comparisons, two years before and two during the pandemic. Mortality rate, sex, color, and age data were included. Before the pandemic, there was a lower mortality rate from an ill-defined or unknown cause in Brazil and the State of Rio de Janeiro. In addition to the problems faced before, the changes caused by the pandemic may have influenced the rise in death notifications from this cause. The age group most affected in the two biennia analyzed was over 80. During the pandemic, men were more affected than women, browns in Brazil and whites in Rio de Janeiro had the highest number of notifications. In general, during the pandemic, it was shown that there was an increase in the number of people who died from unknown or poorly defined causes, especially the elderly. Additional studies need to be performed for definitive elucidation. In addition, it is necessary to identify better the conditions that caused the increase in the number of deaths from unknown or poorly defined causes.