EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF INFANT MORTALITY FROM RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN BRAZIL: BRONCHIOLITIS, BRONCHITIS, ASTHMA, AND PNEUMONIA

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile of infant mortality due to respiratory diseases in Brazil between the years 2019 and 2024, considering age group, sex, and race/color. It is an observational, descriptive, and quantitative study, using secondary data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS), obtained through the DATASUS platform. Children aged 0 to 14 years with hospitalization and death records related to respiratory diseases classified under Chapter X of ICD-10 were included, covering pneumonia, bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, and asthma. A total of 7,949 cases were analyzed, with a predominance of children under 1 year of age (49.21%) and male sex (52.72%). Pneumonia accounted for 87.05% of the deaths, especially among infants. Bronchitis and bronchiolitis together represented 90.33% of deaths in this age group. Asthma showed the highest mortality rate among children aged 1 to 4 years (39.79%). Male children had higher lethality in all diseases analyzed, and mixed-race (parda) children accounted for the majority of deaths.It is concluded that respiratory diseases remain significant causes of infant mortality in Brazil, with greater impact among infants, boys, and mixed-race children. The findings highlight the need for public policies that promote prevention, equity, and early intervention focused on the most vulnerable populations.