[Mortality from epilepsy in Brazil, 1980-2003].

The objective of this study is to contribute to the analysis of the behavior of mortality from epilepsy in Brazil over the period 1980-2003. The data were obtained through the SIM/MS (Mortality Information Subsystem of the Brazilian Health Department) and from the demographic database of the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). There was a reduction of 20,35% in the mortality rate from epilepsy in Brasil (1,13/100.000 in 1980 to 0,9/100.000 in 2003). The epidemiological analysis of the mortality rate showed: predominance of males; higher mortality coefficient in the advanced age groups; expressive increase of mortality from epilepsy in the Brazilian Northeast over the studied period. The reduction of mortality from epilepsy in Brazil evidenced in this study is in accordance with international standards. The reasons leading to the increase of mortality from epilepsy in certain population groups, particularly in the elderly, were discussed.