OBJECTIVE: To identify associated causes and the number of causes on death certificates that reported cerebrovascular diseases as the underlying cause among residents of the State of Paraná, in Brazil. METHODS: Mortality data in 2004 were obtained on the Datasus website. The population was selected by the TabWin program and multiple causes were processed by the Multiple Causes of Death Tabulator program. RESULTS: The mean number of causes listed on death certificates was 2.92 for women and 2.97 for men. Most people who died (74.8%) were aged 65 or older. Among the major causes associated with cerebrovascular disease deaths were respiratory diseases (37.9%), hypertensive diseases (37.5%), and symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory tests (32.3%). FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: There was a relative improvement in the quality of mortality data regarding the number of causes registered. Hypertension as a major associated cause suggests the need for its control in the fight against mortality caused by cerebrovascular disease. Studies with multiple causes should be encouraged, taking into account all causes listed on death certificates, many of which are overlooked in mortality studies that only use the underlying cause of death.
Multiple causes of death; Vital statistics; Death certificates; Mortality; Cerebrovascular disorders; Cardiovascular diseases
