Multiple causes of death in adults related to obesity in the State of Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

Objective. To address the significant issue of obesity as a factor in multiple causes of death in Sergipe, Brazil, from 2016 to 2020. Methods. This descriptive analysis utilized data from the Mortality Information System, and employed Epi-Info. Results. Among 64,120 deaths of individuals aged over 20, 625 cases were identified where obesity was mentioned on the death certificate. The most common related causes of death related to obesity were diseases of the Circulatory System (31.9%), Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic diseases (28.3%), and Infectious and Parasitic diseases (22.2%). The most frequent number of causes listed on a single death certificate was four (27.1%). The mortality rate per 100,000 population was highest among women (9.9), those aged 80 and above (49.6), and residents of the capital city (11.6). A higher percentage was observed among individuals with only elementary education (42.9%), of mixed race (59.4%), living without a partner (54.2%), and those who died in hospitals (72.3%). Conclusion The multiple causes methodology reveals a fivefold increase in deaths attributed to obesity. There was a significant increase in the incidence of deaths with obesity recorded as a cause, rising from 6.6 in 2016 to 17.2 per 100,000 inhabitants aged over 20 in 2020.