Road traffic injuries and deaths and the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990 to 2019.

Deborah Carvalho Malta,Cheila Marina De Lima,Antonio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro,Guilherme Augusto Veloso,Fabiana Martins Dias De Andrade,Laís Santos De Magalhães Cardoso,Mohsen Naghavi,Otaliba Libânio De Morais Neto,Ana Maria Nogales Vasconcelos

doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0261-2021

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Brazil ranks 5th in the number of deaths due to road injuries. This study aimed to analyze mortality and disabilities resulting from road injuries in Brazil, and to assess the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of reducing deaths due to road injuries by 50% by 2030. METHODS: This descriptive and exploratory study used the estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2019: indicators of mortality, premature deaths, and disabilities according to sex, age group, and type of transport for 1990, 2015, and 2019. Time trends in mortality rates from 1990 to 2019 were assessed, and a projection for 2030 was calculated, applying a linear regression model. RESULTS: Deaths due to road injuries were 44,236 in 1990, and 44,529 in 2019, representing a 43% reduction in mortality rates. The highest rates were in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions of Brazil, in males and young adults. A 77% reduction was observed in mortality rates for pedestrians and an increase of 53% for motorcyclists and of 54% for cyclists during the period. In terms of motorcycle road injuries, the mortality rate for men increased from 7.3/100,000 (1990) to 11.7/100,000 inhabitants (2019). The rates of premature deaths and disabilities were also higher for men when compared to women. Amputations, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and head trauma were the main types of road injuries. The projections for 2030 show that Brazil might not reach the SDG target. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the decline in mortality rates, the 2030 Agenda’s target might not be achieved.

Highlights

Brazil ranks 5th in the number of deaths due to road injuries
In February 2020, the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety brought together governments and community representatives from more than 140 countries, and restated one main objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to reduce deaths due to road injuries by 50% by 20302
The objectives of the current study are to analyze mortality and disabilities resulting from road traffic injuries in Brazil, and to estimate the trends of mortality rates due to road injuries from 1990 to 2019, and their projection for 2030

Summary

Introduction

This study aimed to analyze mortality and disabilities resulting from road injuries in Brazil, and to assess the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of reducing deaths due to road injuries by 50% by 2030. Road traffic injuries are responsible for approximately 1.35 million deaths around the world and for approximately 50 million non-fatal injuries, and in most cases, victims are left disabled[1,2]. Road traffic injuries are the main cause of death for children and young people aged 5 to 29 years, most of which happen to men[1]. Pedestrians and cyclists correspond to approximately one fourth of the fatal victims of road traffic injuries[2]. In Brazil, road traffic injuries cause approximately 40,000 deaths each year, and the country ranks 5th in number of deaths[3]. If we include the seriously injured, the number of victims is over 150,000/year[4]

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Conclusion