Epidemiological profile of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Brazil between 2011-2020

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to carry out an epidemiological analysis of Visceral Leishmaniasis cases registered by the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN-DATASUS) in Brazil between the years 2011 and 2020. The variables verified were: year, region of notification, gender, age group, and disease progression. In the time range studied, 34,386 cases were registered in the Brazilian territory. The year 2017 stood out with the highest number of cases: 4,462, and 2020 presented the lowest number: 1,908. Such variations proved to be related to global climatic and epidemiological events: 2017 was evaluated as the 3rd hottest year in history by the North American Entity NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration), with the consulted literature pointing to relations of growth in the incidence of high temperature climatic events. The year 2020 faced the COVID-19 pandemic break-out. There was a predominance of cases in the Northeast (54.96%), followed by the Southeast (18.67%), North (18.05%), Midwest (8.01%) and South (0.31%). The gender variable shows a predominance of incidence of 65.08% in males and 34.91% in females, which is compatible with the literature. Another parameter that remains within the literature is the age group, where the highest incidence in the 1-4 age group was 23.77%, remaining a disease that severely affects children. The percentages found are in line with the literature and the disease has changed its spread in the Northeast region of the country from about 90% to 55% in two decades, still remaining the most affected region of the country. The disease appears to be more widespread and urban in current studies. There are new and efficient multidisciplinary resources – pharmacological, geographic, climatic and environmental – which, if continued, expanded, and articulated, can strengthen the fight against this serious harm to human health.