Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have observed a correlation between mortality rates from ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), cerebrovascular diseases (CBVDs), and the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). However, doubts persist about the association between the overall SVI and its dimensions and mortality stratified by sex, ethnicity, and population clusters. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evolution of the overall SVI and its dimensions and correlate it with mortality rates due to IHD and CBVD in Brazil and its Federative Units (FUs) from 2000 to 2021. METHODS: Ecological study of time series of standardized mortality rates (using the direct method with the Brazilian population in 2000) due to IHD and CBVD categorized by age, sex, and FUs between 2000 and 2021, correlated with the SVI and its dimensions. Data on the underlying causes of death were obtained from the Mortality Information System, while SVI data were sourced from the Social Vulnerability Atlas. Spearman correlation (considered significant if p<0.05) was employed to calculate each analyzed stratum. RESULTS: The SVI and its Human Capital (SVI-HC) dimension and Income and Employment (SVI-IE) dimension in 2010 showed a strong correlation with variations in mortality rates due to CBVD and IHD (SVI x CBVD: Rho(p)=0.85; SVI x IHD: Rho(p)=0.75; SVI-HC x CBVD: Rho(p)=0.84; SVI-HC x IHD: Rho(p)=0.84; SVI-IE x CBVD: Rho(p)=0.81; SVI-IE x IHD: Rho(p)=0.71). The Urban Infrastructure dimension (SVI-UI) showed a weak correlation with CBVD and IHD, respectively (SVI-UI x CBVD: Rho(p)=0.33; SVI-UI x IHD: Rho(p)=0.25). CONCLUSION: Both SVI-HC and SVI-IE demonstrated strong correlations with variations in mortality rates from IHD and CBVD.