Abstract 2758: Comparison Of The Mortality Caused By Cerebrovascular Disease And Ischemic Heart Disease In Panama From 2001 To 2009, Its Relationship To Gender And Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Abstract

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is among the top 5 leading causes of death in the Republic of Panama. The mortality trends of CVD and ischemic heart disease (IHD) for these diseases, its relationship to age, gender and urban vs. rural occurrence have not been studied in the last decade. We compiled data from the National Registries of Mortality from all causes spanning the years of 2001 to 2009 (n=125,519), from the National Survey of Quality of Life, Health and Living Standard (NSQLH) obtained in 25,794 individuals and data from the National Population Census of 2000 and 2009. From these data sets we calculated crude, age and gender specific and adjusted mortality rates for CVD and IHD and also calculated the crude and adjusted rates at county level. While the age adjusted death rates from CVD for 2001-2009 decreased, the same did not occur for the rates for IHD. Males had a higher mortality than females but the mortality gap between males and females was less for CVD than for IHD. Paradoxically, estimates based of the NSQLH show that the women surveyed had a higher prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and abnormal blood glucose levels. Mortality was higher in urban areas for CVD and IHD. We conclude that while there has been a reduction in the recent mortality trends for CVD mortality in Panama the same has not occurred for IHD. We have no explanation for these secular trends given the absence of a national strategy for the control of these diseases.