This study presents the distribution of causes of death among physicians in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2000 to 2009. The study used the database of the Mortality Information System, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Ministry of Health, limited to death certificates in which the item on occupation was reported as "physician". Underlying causes of death were classified according to ICD-10 chapters. The study showed that cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of death among physicians, followed by cancer and respiratory diseases. Under age 40, doctors of both genders died mainly from external causes. Among cancer deaths, breast cancer was the leading cause in women and lung cancer the first cause in men. The results show the need to promote adequate health habits and disease prevention among physicians, seeking to raise awareness in this group of professionals.
Physicians; Mortality; Cardiovascular Diseases; Neoplasms
