Trends and patterns of work-related cyclist fatalities in Brazil, 2014–2022

Bicycles are common mode of transport in countries with well-developed road infrastructure and traffic law enforcement. In Brazil, their use for economic activities, particularly on app-based deliveries, has surged. However, work-related cyclist fatalities (WRCFs) remain an understudied public health concern. This study characterizes WRCFs among individuals aged 10-69 in Brazil from 2014 to 2022, analyzing key demographic, occupational, temporal, and geographic trends. Using data from Brazil's Mortality Information System (MIS), we examined deaths classified under ICD-10 codes V10-V19 (pedal cyclist injured in transport accidents). Proportional mortality, mean age at death (MAoD), median, interquartile range and Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) were calculated. Of 6590 cyclist-related fatalities, 272 (4.1%) were confirmed as WRCFs. Most victims were male (87.1%), aged 29-58 years (68.3%), white (49.7%), had low education levels (< 12 years, 82.4%) and were single (45.9%). Fatalities seem concentrated in the South/Southeast regions (71%), with 61.3% involving collisions with motor vehicles (ICD-10 codes V13-V14). The highest proportions of WRCFs occurred among industrial (42%) and sales/trade (30.9%) workers. The MAoD was 43.6 years, with a total of 8896.4 YPLL. Notably, work-related fatality classification was missing in 57% of cases, highlighting the need for improved death certificate reporting in the country. Enhancing data quality is essential to understanding the risks faced by workers, many of whom are engaged in precarious, informal employment without social protection.