Changes in mortality in a non-industrialized Portugal: Coimbra Municipal Cemetery records (1861-1914) and identified osteological collections

Objective To investigate if there were changes in mortality knowing that industrialization was a slow and late process in Portugal. Materials The biographic information (1) of the individuals buried at the Coimbra Municipal Cemetery, considering three quinquennia: 1861-1865 (n = 1111, 18.3%), 1870-1974 (n = 2602, 42.7%), 1910-1914 (n = 2374, 39.0%), related to the periods before, during and at the end of the second industrialization and (2) of the Coimbra identified osteological collections (CIOC, N = 1796) composed of individuals who were born and died in the city. Methods Excel databases with the biographic information were analyzed with SPSS. Results Data from the cemetery show statistically significant differences between sexes and age-at-death mortalities. Non-adult mortality (higher in the age range from 1 to 7 years) has decreased over time which has increased mean age-at-death. The main adult occupations are domestic work (females) and craft activities (males). Child labor is common after the age of 14. The main causes of death (in both cemetery and CIOC records) were infections, respiratory diseases, heart disease, and malignant neoplasm. Among the communicable diseases, tuberculosis accounted for the highest number of deaths. The identified individuals have lesions compatible with tuberculosis and sinusitis while malignant neoplasms are more difficult to identify. The high prevalence of heart disease can overshadow other causes of death. Conclusions In the absence of industrialization, tuberculosis, heart disease, and malignant neoplasms increased over time, while respiratory diseases decreased. Significance Mortality profile changed between 1861-1864 and 1910-1914 in Coimbra. Limitations The causes of death were studied, but not all diseases. Suggestions for further research Study of other cemetery records for further comparison.