Browsing by Autor "Ana Carolina Goulart Fernandes"

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BRAZILIAN OVERVIEW OF LEPTOSPIROSIS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS: ECOLOGICAL STUDY
(Elsevier BV, 2026) Islene Bezerra da Silva; Felipe Ranoya Purri; João Marcos Geraldo Ramos; Gabriela Garbuio Vendramini; Pietra Antonella De Costa; Ana Carolina Goulart Fernandes
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis of compulsory notification in Brazil, with transmission associated with exposure to environments contaminated by the urine of infected animals, especially rodents. Factors such as heavy rainfall, flooding and poor sanitation contribute to its spread, particularly in vulnerable urban areas. Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, it is necessary to monitor the distribution and temporal behavior of the disease to support public policies for prevention and control. This study aimed to analyze confirmed cases of leptospirosis in Brazil. Observational, ecological and retrospective study based on secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), obtained via DATASUS. All confirmed cases of leptospirosis notified in Brazil between 2020 and 2024 were included and stratified by macro–geographic region. Data were organized by year of notification and summed for each region and for the national total. Temporal trends were assessed by simple linear regression, adopting a 5% significance level (p<0.05). A total of 12,013 confirmed cases of leptospirosis were recorded in Brazil between 2020 and 2024. Linear regression indicated an average increase of 175.6 cases per year (R² = 0.13; p=0.558), without statistical significance, indicating the absence of a consistent linear trend. The highest concentrations occurred in the South (4,015) and Southeast (3,820) regions, while the Center-West region had the lowest number of cases (234), demonstrating uneven geographic distribution of the disease. The study showed a heterogeneous distribution of leptospirosis in Brazil between 2020 and 2024, with predominance in the South and Southeast regions. Although there was an absolute increase in cases, no statistically significant trend was observed. The findings reinforce the need for region-specific strategies to tackle the disease, involving environmental monitoring, vector control, improvements in basic sanitation and strengthening of epidemiological surveillance, especially in contexts of social and environmental vulnerability.
ECOLOGICAL STUDY: BACTERIAL MENINGITIS IN BRAZIL AND TRENDS IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE
(Elsevier BV, 2026) Alinaira Ângela de Castro e Souza; Pietra Antonella De Costa; Islene Bezerra da Silva; Ana Carolina Goulart Fernandes
Bacterial meningitis is a potentially severe infection with high hospitalization rates and risk of permanent sequelae, particularly in childhood. Children under 10 years old represent a high-risk group due to greater susceptibility to severe forms and rapid progression. In Brazil, understanding the evolution of hospitalizations for this condition can guide public policies on prevention, early diagnosis, and expansion of vaccine coverage. This study aimed to analyze hospital admissions for bacterial meningitis in children under 10 years of age in Brazil. This is an ecological study using secondary data from the Hospital Information System of SUS (SIH/SUS), accessed via DATASUS. All hospitalizations for bacterial meningitis (ICD-10: A39 and G00) in children under 10 years old recorded in Brazil between 2018 and 2024 were included. Variables analyzed included the absolute number of hospitalizations per year and per geographic macro-region (North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Center-West). Simple linear regression was applied to assess temporal trends and the Kruskal-Wallis test for regional comparison, with a significance level of 5%. A total of 11,618 hospitalizations for bacterial meningitis in children under 10 years old were recorded in Brazil between 2018 and 2024. Linear regression indicated an average annual increase of 51.75 hospitalizations (R² = 0.07), with no statistical significance (p=0.560), suggesting no consistent temporal trend. Regional analysis demonstrated significant differences in the number of hospitalizations (H = 28.87; p<0.001), with the Southeast showing the highest number of cases, followed by the Northeast, South, North, and Center-West. Although the number of hospitalizations for bacterial meningitis in children under 10 years old remained relatively stable in Brazil between 2018 and 2024, there was significant regional inequality in case distribution. The higher concentration in the Southeast may reflect greater population density and better access to diagnosis and hospitalization. These findings reinforce the importance of continuous monitoring and implementing region-specific strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of bacterial meningitis in the pediatric population.
PATTERN OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR PNEUMONIA IN OLDER ADULTS IN BRAZIL: ECOLOGICAL STUDY
(Elsevier BV, 2026) Eduarda Beloch; Luana de Prince Guilherme; Sindel Mounzon Quiroga; Leonardo Silva Mendes; Isabela Olinda Mendes Vasconcellos; Bruna Congentino Ten; Juliane Machado da Silva Salim Menzel; Debora Cristina da Silva Lourenço; Ana Carolina Goulart Fernandes
Pneumonia is one of the main causes of hospitalization and mortality among older adults in Brazil, especially in the context of population aging. Immunological changes associated with senescence and the presence of chronic comorbidities increase this population’s vulnerability to severe respiratory infections. With more than 32 million Brazilians aged 60 years or older, the country faces the challenge of adapting its health system to these new demands. This study aimed to analyze the pattern of hospitalizations for pneumonia among individuals aged 60 years or older in Brazil. Observational, ecological and retrospective study based on secondary data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS), extracted from DATASUS. All hospitalizations for pneumonia (ICD-10: J18) in individuals aged 60 years or older in Brazil between 2014 and 2024 were included. The variables analyzed were sex, age group (60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79 and 80 years or older) and geographic region (North, Northeast, Southeast, South and Center-West). Descriptive analysis with tables and Chi-Square (χ²) tests were used to assess the association between variables. A significance level of 5% (p<0.05) was adopted. A total of 2,769,914 hospitalizations for pneumonia in older adults were analyzed between 2014 and 2024. Of these, 1,357,573 occurred in men and 1,412,341 in women. The regions with the highest number of hospitalizations were Southeast (1,164,873), South (609,890) and Northeast (618,807). There was a progressive increase with age, with 1,175,583 hospitalizations (42.4%) in the ≥80 years group. Statistical analyses indicated a significant association between sex and region (χ² = 2,178.61; p<0.001), as well as between age group and region (χ² = 10,966.74; p<0.001), demonstrating demographic and regional variations in the hospitalization profile. The study identified a high burden of hospitalizations for pneumonia among older adults in Brazil, with a predominance of cases in individuals aged 80 years or older and concentration in the Southeast, South and Northeast regions. Differences by sex and age group between regions suggest disparities in the profile of hospital morbidity. The findings reinforce the need to expand access to vaccination against respiratory infections, strengthen primary care and implement regionalized public policies aimed at prevention, early diagnosis and adequate management of pneumonia in older adults.
TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEPATITIS B VACCINATION COVERAGE IN NEWBORNS AND HEPATITIS B-RELATED HOSPITALIZATIONS IN CHILDREN UP TO 5 YEARS OF AGE (2018–2022)
(Elsevier BV, 2026) Luana de Prince Guilherme; Sindel Mounzon Quiroga; Leonardo Silva Mendes; Eduarda Beloch; Isabela Olinda Mendes Vasconcellos; Bruna Congentino Ten; Juliane Machado da Silva Salim Menzel; Debora Cristina da Silva Lourenço; Ana Carolina Goulart Fernandes
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can progress to severe chronic forms and is responsible for a high global burden of morbidity and mortality. In 2022, according to WHO estimates, there were 1.3 million deaths from viral hepatitis, 83% of which were attributed to hepatitis B virus (HBV). In Brazil, the hepatitis B vaccine has been available since 1998 in the Programa Nacional de Imunizações, with recommendation for administration within the first 24 hours of life. This study aimed to analyze hepatitis B vaccination coverage in newborns and the number of hospitalizations for acute hepatitis B in children under five years of age in Brazil. Observational, ecological and retrospective study based on secondary data extracted from SIH/SUS and SI-PNI, available in DATASUS. Data on newborns vaccinated against hepatitis B within 30 days of life and children up to five years hospitalized for acute hepatitis B (ICD-10: B16) from 2019 to 2022 were included. Vaccination coverage was collected annually, and temporal trends in hospitalizations were assessed by simple linear regression. No association tests between variables were performed, as the objective was descriptive and exploratory. A drop in vaccination coverage was observed in 2020 (65.77%) and 2021 (67.03%), followed by recovery in 2022 (82.76%). In parallel, hospitalizations for acute hepatitis B in children under five increased from 19 cases in 2019 to 29 in 2022. Linear regression indicated an upward trend, with a slope of 4.0 and a coefficient of determination R² = 0.77, suggesting that 77% of the variation in hospitalizations can be explained by temporal progression. Although no inferential analysis was conducted between variables, there is evident temporal coincidence between lower vaccination coverage and increased hospitalizations. The data suggest a temporal association between decreased vaccination coverage in newborns and increased hospitalizations for acute hepatitis B in children under five in Brazil. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination services may have contributed to reduced coverage in this period. Maintaining universal vaccination, particularly within the first 24 hours of life, should remain a continuous priority in public policies.
TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEPATITIS B VACCINATION COVERAGE IN NEWBORNS AND HEPATITIS B-RELATED HOSPITALIZATIONS IN CHILDREN UP TO 5 YEARS OF AGE (2018–2022)
(Elsevier BV, 2026) Luana de Prince Guilherme; Sindel Mounzon Quiroga; Leonardo Silva Mendes; Eduarda Beloch; Isabela Olinda Mendes Vasconcellos; Bruna Congentino Ten; Juliane Machado da Silva Salim Menzel; Debora Cristina da Silva Lourenço; Ana Carolina Goulart Fernandes
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can progress to severe chronic forms and is responsible for a high global burden of morbidity and mortality. In 2022, according to WHO estimates, there were 1.3 million deaths from viral hepatitis, 83% of which were attributed to hepatitis B virus (HBV). In Brazil, the hepatitis B vaccine has been available since 1998 in the Programa Nacional de Imunizações, with recommendation for administration within the first 24 hours of life. This study aimed to analyze hepatitis B vaccination coverage in newborns and the number of hospitalizations for acute hepatitis B in children under five years of age in Brazil. Observational, ecological and retrospective study based on secondary data extracted from SIH/SUS and SI-PNI, available in DATASUS. Data on newborns vaccinated against hepatitis B within 30 days of life and children up to five years hospitalized for acute hepatitis B (ICD-10: B16) from 2019 to 2022 were included. Vaccination coverage was collected annually, and temporal trends in hospitalizations were assessed by simple linear regression. No association tests between variables were performed, as the objective was descriptive and exploratory. A drop in vaccination coverage was observed in 2020 (65.77%) and 2021 (67.03%), followed by recovery in 2022 (82.76%). In parallel, hospitalizations for acute hepatitis B in children under five increased from 19 cases in 2019 to 29 in 2022. Linear regression indicated an upward trend, with a slope of 4.0 and a coefficient of determination R² = 0.77, suggesting that 77% of the variation in hospitalizations can be explained by temporal progression. Although no inferential analysis was conducted between variables, there is evident temporal coincidence between lower vaccination coverage and increased hospitalizations. The data suggest a temporal association between decreased vaccination coverage in newborns and increased hospitalizations for acute hepatitis B in children under five in Brazil. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination services may have contributed to reduced coverage in this period. Maintaining universal vaccination, particularly within the first 24 hours of life, should remain a continuous priority in public policies.