EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ACUTE RHEUMATIC FEVER: INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE IN BRAZIL (2019-2024)

Abstract

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting from infection by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, often associated with poor socioeconomic conditions. The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiological profile of acute rheumatic fever in Brazil. The time frame was the incidence of notifications of the disease in the period from 2019 to 2024. A quantitative, retrospective and epidemiological methodological approach was used, showing the number of cases due to acute rheumatic fever. Data were collected through the SUS Information Technology Department (DATASUS), and the variables investigated were year of hospitalization, sex, color/race, age group, type of hospitalization, average hospital stay and number of deaths due to acute rheumatic fever in Brazil. A total of 8,614 hospitalizations were recorded, with a predominance in the Southeast and Northeast regions. There was a slight prevalence among women and individuals who self-declared as brown, with a higher incidence in middle-aged and elderly adults, reflecting late complications of the disease. Most hospitalizations were emergency cases, evidencing late diagnosis. The fatality rate was 3.6%, highlighting the severity of the disease despite it being preventable and treatable. The analysis reinforces the need to intensify early diagnosis and prophylaxis strategies, especially in vulnerable populations.