Epidemiological profile of admissions and deaths from malaria in Brazil, between 2013 and 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite of the gender Plasmodium, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, insects that usually feed at twilight hours. Objective: Present the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to malaria in Brazil from 2013 to 2022. Method: Observational, retrospective and descriptive, ecological study with secondary data obtained from the Information Technology Department of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), and more specifically, through of the Malaria Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sivep-Malaria), referring to the analysis of the epidemiological aspects of malaria in Brazil. All cases reported in the first year of symptoms of patients with Malaria in Brazil between 2013 and 2023 were included. The variables for this study were: geographic distribution, age group, race, sex, number of hospitalizations and deaths. Results: A total of 2,842 confirmed cases of malaria were identified in individuals aged 20 to 39 years, 2178 (76.6%) men and 664 (23.4%) women were affected by the disease. The Southeast region concentrated the largest number of cases, which represented a total of 1330 notifications. Adding up all the cases, there was a predominance of the Brown race (44.9%). In relation to the number of hospitalizations, the North region of the country surpassed all others with a total of 6700 (79.6%). A higher frequency of deaths was noted in the Southeast region (36%) and in 2021 in all regions. Conclusion: Malaria is a disease more prevalent in white and brown individuals, men and young people, which translates into an economically productive population. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, malaria still represents a significant public health challenge in many tropical and subtropical regions, including Brazil. Mainly in regions with large concentrations of cases and deaths, such as the Southeast of the country.