Abstract

BLANCO, Patricia et al. Years of Life Lost due to Acute Myocardial Infarction in Argentina between 1991 and 2005. Rev. argent. cardiol. [online]. 2008, vol.76, n.6, pp.442-449. ISSN 1850-3748.

Background Years of potential life lost (YPLL) is an indicator used to illustrate premature mortality. In opposition to crude mortality rates adjusted by years, YPLL represents the number of years theoretically not lived by an individual who dies prematurely (before the predicted life expectancy). By emphasizing the loss of life at an early age, YPLL focuses attention on the need to deal with the major causes of early deaths, and the use of this indicator is justified in planning and defining health priorities. Objectives To describe the evolution of mortality due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in terms of mortality rate (MR) and years of potential life lost (YPLL) between 1991-2005, identify sex-related differences and compare mean YPLL per decease between the registries of the SAC and of the Health Statistics and Information Directorate, Ministry of Health (DEIS). Material and Methods Data form deaths due to AMI distributed by age and sex were retrieved from the DEIS and SAC registries. YPLL were estimated by Romeder and Mc Whinnie's method and were also based on life expectancy at birth as well as mean YPLL with its corresponding 95% confidence interval. Results Mortality rate for AMI decreased from 50/100,000 inhabitants in 1991 to 38/100,000 in 2005 (slope -3.7; p<0.001). YPLL decreased from 516 to 314 years/100,000 during the same period. National YPLL were 11.3 (11.1-11.5), 11.4 (11.2-11.6), 11.5 (11.3-11.7), 11.1 (10.8-11.3) for 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2005, respectively (slope 0.0). These results were similar to those of the SAC registries: 10.8 (8.22-13.5), 10.4 (6.86-14.0), 7.50 (4.67-10.3), 14.0 (10.3-17.7) for the same years (slope +0.67). No significant differences were reported among both sexes, except for women in 2000 (p<0.05). Conclusions The use of mean YPLL demonstrated an absence of reduction in premature death due to AMI in Argentina. This result is not perceptible in the analysis of mortality rate which showed a decline during the study period.

Keywords : Myocardial Infarction; Years of Potential Life Lost; Epidemiology.

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