Standardization of rates for sudden cardiovascular death in Mexico, 2010

Abstract

Introduction: The sudden cardiovascular death represents a major health problem.

Objective: The main objective of the study was to apply the standardization technique of rates to the cause of sudden cardiovascular death.

Method: Information was gathered through the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics, regarding the number of sudden cardiovascular deaths that occurred during the years 2005 and 2010, for each state of the Mexican Republic, and crude rates were calculated, which were ordered by ranges; subsequently, the standardization technique was applied, using the direct method, where the number of expected deaths was obtained in order to calculate the standardized rate, before which the results obtained were rearranged, by means of ranges, and maps with priority regions were generated in both cases.

Results: With the data obtained, the states of the Mexican Republic were mapped, through the use of crude rates, and it was relevant that the states of the northern border strip were located with low and medium-low rates, and only one of them with a high rate, the Federal District. After the standardization, the entire northern border strip was located between medium-high and high; the rest of the country was also at a higher level in its rate, except from two states located to the south, Quintana Roo and Chiapas.

Conclusions: The standardization technique of rates allowed to establish a differ-ent level of prioritization regarding the occurrence of sudden cardiovascular deaths by states of the Mexican Republic.