In 2021
Mortality due to circulatory system diseases and malignant tumours increased, while mortality from respiratory system diseases decreased
DREM (Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira) is releasing today information on the causes of death in 2021, categorised by municipality, age group, and sex, for the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM). Mortality rates were used to compare the number of deaths in different municipalities, based on the estimated average population derived from the final results of the 2021 Census.
In 2021, there were 2,875 deaths among residents in the ARM, representing a 6.0% increase compared to 2020 (2,713 deaths). Of these, 1,417 were males (49.3%) and 1,458 were females (50.7%). This results in male-to-female death ratio of 97.2, meaning there were 97.2 male deaths for every 100 female deaths. In Portugal, this ratio was 101.0.
The crude mortality rate in the ARM for the year under review was 11.4 deaths per thousand inhabitants (12.0‰ at the national level). São Vicente had the highest rate among municipalities (18.5‰), followed by Calheta (15.5‰) and Santana (15.4‰). The lowest values were recorded in the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos and Santa Cruz (both with 8.8‰).
Mortality from "Circulatory system diseases" was the leading cause of death among residents in the ARM, with 809 deaths, corresponding to a mortality rate of 320.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (329.2 in 2020).
"Malignant tumours" were the second leading cause of death, with 676 deaths, corresponding to a mortality rate of 268.0 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (263.5 in 2020). Within this cause of death group, "Malignant neoplasm of the larynx, trachea, bronchus, and lung" was the main cause of death (39.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by "Malignant neoplasm of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues and related tissues" (22.6).
Deaths caused by "Respiratory system diseases" were the third leading cause of death, with 401 deaths in the region, corresponding to a mortality rate of 159.0 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (166.8 in 2020).
According to the World Health Organization's classification of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), deaths caused by "Respiratory system diseases" do not include COVID-19. COVID-19 deaths were classified separately using special codes U00 to U99. In the ARM, there were 126 deaths caused by COVID-19 in 2021 (63 males and 63 females), representing an increase of 111 deaths compared to 2020. These deaths accounted for 4.4% of the total mortality in 2021, resulting in a mortality rate of 50.0 deaths per 100,000 population in the ARM (124.5 in Portugal). The months of the first quarter, November and December had the highest number of deaths, accounting for 90.5% of the total. Regarding the age group, 81.0% of the deaths were persons aged 70 years or older.
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