Epidemiology of hospitalizations and deaths from schistosomiasis in the state of Bahia between 2018 and 2023

Resumo

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma mansoni. The infection is acquired when a person comes into contact with fresh water contaminated by parasite-infected snails. In this sense, acute and chronic clinical manifestations can be observed, the most prevalent being: dizziness, fever, asthenia, bloody diarrhea, splenomegaly, etc. In Brazil, data estimates that more than 1 million people live in areas at risk of contracting the disease. This makes it important to analyze hospitalizations and deaths from the disease in the state of Bahia. Objectives: To describe the epidemiological profile of hospitalizations and deaths from schistosomiasis in Bahia between 2018 and 2023. Methods: This is a mixed ecological study covering the territory of Bahia from 2018 to 2023, based on secondary data extracted from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) and the Mortality Information System (SIM) available from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), tabulated in Excel®.2019. The outcomes considered were: number of hospitalizations and deaths; the variables analyzed included: gender, age group, race and micro-region. Results: Between 2018 and 2023, 348 deaths from schistosomiasis occurred in the state of Bahia. In addition, 91 hospitalizations for the disease were identified during this period, with 2022 recording the highest number of hospitalizations, with 26 cases, while 2023 had the lowest incidence, with only 4 hospitalizations. It can also be seen that men were more affected than women, and the most affected age group was between 50 and 59. In terms of mortality, the most affected age group was 70 to 79, followed by 60 to 69. The highest number of deaths was recorded in 2018, with 67 deaths. Mortality remained stable in the following years, but even with the variations in absolute numbers, deaths continued to occur mainly in elderly patients. Geographical analysis of the data showed that the municipalities: Salvador, Feira de Santana and Vitória da Conquista concentrated the majority of mortality cases. Conclusion: From the analysis of the data, it is possible to note a higher number of hospitalizations for schistosomiasis in 2022, and a higher number of mortalities in 2018, as well as showing a predominance in the 70-79 age group. In addition, there is a predominance of mortality cases in the municipalities of Salvador, Feira de Santana and Vitória da Conquista. Given these data, we can infer that schistosomiasis represents a major challenge for public health, and it is necessary to continue monitoring the evolution of the disease, implementing preventive measures and carrying out more effective control, as well as reinforcing public health measures in order to reduce these rates and achieve better results.