Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Northeast region of Brazil.

In this household-based seroepidemiological survey, we analyzed the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sergipe State, Northeast Brazil, the poorest region of the country. A total of 16,547 individuals were tested using a rapid IgM-IgG antibody test and fluorescence immunoassay (FIA). Seroprevalence rates were presented according to age, sex, and geographic region. A comparative analysis was performed between the results obtained in July 2020 (peak of the first wave), August - November 2020 (end of the first wave), and February - March 2021 (beginning of the second wave). Seroprevalence rates in the three phases were estimated at 9.3% (95% CI 8.5-10.1), 12.0% (95% CI 11.2-12.9) and 15.4% (95% CI 14.5-16.4). At the end of the first wave, there was a rise in seroprevalence in the countryside (p < 0.001). At the beginning of the second wave, we found an increase in seroprevalence among women (p < 0.001), adults aged 20 to 59 years (p < 0.001), and the elderly (p < 0.001). In this phase, we found an increase in estimates both in metropolitan areas and in the countryside (p < 0.001). This study showed an increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence over the first year of the pandemic, with approximately one in six people having anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the beginning of the second wave of COVID-19. Furthermore, our results suggest a rapid spread of COVID-19 from metropolitan areas to the countryside during the first months of the pandemic.

Does In-Person Visiting Affect the Number of COVID-19 Cases in Prisons?

Even with the current advances that have been made in regard to COVID-19, such as a better understanding of the disease and the steady growth in the number of vaccinated individuals, it remains a challenge for humanity. Dealing with the disease in prison settings has been particularly difficult. This study sought to discover whether in-person visiting affected the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the penitentiaries in the state of Sergipe (Brazil). We conducted a two-phase study (when visiting was suspended and after it recommenced) in seven penitentiaries in Sergipe using immunochromatography and nasopharyngeal swab testing to evaluate whether visiting affects the number of COVID-19 cases. In the first phase (n = 778), 57.6% of inmates reported risk factors and 32.5% were positive for COVID-19 (18.9% IgM, 24.2% IgG, 1% antigen). In the second phase, 19.6% tested positive (13.9% IgM, 7.9% IgG, 0.2% antigen). The occurrence of positive cases of COVID-19 and positive results (IgM and IgG) were significantly higher in the first phase. In the second phase, 56.7% of inmates had received visits and 18.7% were positive for COVID-19 (14% IgM, 7% IgG). Among those who had not received visits, 20.9% tested positive (13.8% IgM, 9.2% IgG, 0.5% antigen). There was no significant difference in positive cases/results between inmates that had and had not received visits. These findings suggest that, under the conditions assessed, visiting does not seem to affect the number of COVID-19 cases in prisons and reinforces the importance of sanitary measures to control dissemination.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the poorest region of Brazil: results from a population-based study.

Population-based seroprevalence studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in low- and middle-income countries are lacking. We investigated the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in Sergipe state, Northeast Brazil, using rapid IgM-IgG antibody test and fluorescence immunoassay. The seroprevalence was 9.3% (95% CI 8.5-10.1), 10.2% (95% CI 9.2-11.3) for women and 7.9% (IC 95% 6.8-9.1) for men (P = 0.004). We found a decline in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies according to age, but the differences were not statistically significant: 0-19 years (9.9%; 95% CI 7.8-12.5), 20-59 years (9.3%; 95% CI 8.4-10.3) and ≥60 years (9.0%; 95% CI 7.5-10.8) (P = 0.517). The metropolitan area had a higher seroprevalence (11.7%, 95% CI 10.3-13.2) than outside municipalities (8.0%, 95% CI 7.2-8.9) (P < 0.001). These findings highlight the importance of serosurveillance to estimate the real impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and thereby provide data to better understand the spread of the virus, as well as providing information to guide stay-at-home measures and other policies. In addition, these results may be useful as basic data to follow the progress of COVID-19 outbreak as social restriction initiatives start to be relaxed in Brazil.

Factors Associated with Mortality among Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Information on the risk factors for COVID-19 mortality in low- and middle-income countries is still scarce. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the factors associated with COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized patients in a poor area of Brazil. Logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with mortality, including gender, age, and the presence of underlying medical conditions. A total of 1,207 patients were included in the analysis, and a 1.5-fold increase in COVID-19 mortality was found among patients aged > 65 years with hypertension and diabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.02-2.19). Moreover, infectious disease (OR: 4.31, 95% CI: 1.39-13.39), kidney disease (OR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.27-5.27), and heart disease (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.31-3.04) were also predictive for COVID-19 in-hospital death. This large cohort provides important data on potential factors associated with COVID-19 mortality in Brazil.

Spatial and temporal analysis of tuberculosis in an area of social inequality in Northeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a disease known worldwide for its vulnerability factors, magnitude and mortality. The objective of the study was to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of TB in the area of social inequality in northeast Brazil between the years 2001 and 2016. METHODS: An ecological time series study with the use of spatial analysis techniques was carried out from 2001 to 2016. The units of analysis were the 75 municipalities in the state of Sergipe. Data from the Notification of Injury Information System were used. For the construction of the maps, the cartographic base of the state of Sergipe, obtained at the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, was used. Georeferenced data were analysed using TerraView 4.2.2 software (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) and QGis 2.18.2 (Open Source Geospatial Foundation). Spatial analyses included the empirical Bayesian model and the global and local Moran indices. The time trend analyses were performed by the software Joinpoint Regression, Version 4.5.0.1, with the variables of sex, age, cure and abandonment. RESULTS: There was an increasing trend of tuberculosis cases in patients under 20 years old and 20-39 years old, especially in males. Cured cases showed a decreasing trend, and cases of treatment withdrawal were stationary. A spatial dependence was observed in almost all analysed territories but with different concentrations. Significant spatial correlations with the formation of clusters in the southeast and northeast of the state were observed. The probability of illness among municipalities was determined not to occur in a random way. CONCLUSION: The identification of risk areas and priority groups can help health planning by refining the focus of attention to tuberculosis control. Understanding the epidemiological, spatial and temporal dynamics of tuberculosis can allow for improved targeting of strategies for disease prevention and control.

Tendência temporal e características epidemiológicas da tuberculose em um município do nordeste do Brasil / Tendencia en el tiempo y características epidemiológicas de la tuberculosis en un municipio del noreste de Brasil / Trend temporary and epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis in a municipality of northeast Brazil

RESUMO Introdução: A tuberculose é uma doença infecciosa considerada um grave problema de saúde pública no Brasil, com elevadas prevalências nas regiões Norte, Nordeste e Centro-oeste. Objetivo: Analisar a tendência temporal e descrever as características clínico-epidemiológicas dos casos de tuberculose no município de Lagarto/SE, Nordeste do Brasil. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, retrospectivo e de série temporal, por meio de dados secundários dos casos de tuberculose notificados entre o período de 2002 e 2012. As fontes de dados utilizadas foram as fichas de investigação do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Analisaram-se as tendências temporais por sexo e faixa etária através de regressão linear, considerando-se p< 0,05. Resultados: Foram notificados 315 casos de tuberculose, sendo a taxa média de incidênciade 30,15 casos para cada 100 mil habitantes. Houve um decréscimo (31 porcento) da taxa de incidência, variando de 31,51(2002) para 21,74(2012). Observou-se predomínio do sexo masculino (65,4 porcento), adultos jovens (61 porcento), casos novos (84,1 porcento), forma pulmonar (84,4 porcento), bacilíferos (66,98 porcento) e ocorrência de 05 casos (1,59 porcento) de coinfecção TB/HIV. No tocante a tendência, foi observada uma redução significativa para o sexo feminino (p=0,015) e em idosos (p=0,04). Conclusões: Apesar das variações anuais nas taxas, foi perceptível uma tendência decrescente da incidência de casos de tuberculose no município de Lagarto/SE. Torna-se importante manter e intensificar as intervenções de controle, com prioridades estratégicas focadas na busca ativa de sintomáticos respiratórios, sobretudo em localidades de difícil acesso aos serviços de saúde(AU)

RESUMEN Introducción: La tuberculosis es una enfermedad infecciosa considerada un problema grave de salud pública en Brasil, con una alta prevalencia en el norte, noreste y medio oeste. Objetivo: Analizar las tendencias en el tiempo y describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los casos de tuberculosis en la ciudad de Lagarto/SE, noreste de Brasil. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y series de tiempo, el uso de datos secundarios de los casos de tuberculosis notificados entre el período 2002 y 2012. Las fuentes de datos utilizadas fueron los registros Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Declaración Obligatoria (SINAN). Las tendencias temporales se analizaron por sexo y grupo de edad por regresión lineal, considerando p <0,05. Resultados: Se reportaron 315 casos de tuberculosis, y la tasa media de incidencia de 30,15 casos por cada 100 mil habitantes. Hubo una disminución (31 por ciento) se la tasa de incidencia que oscila entre 31,51 (2002) a 21,74 (2012). Hubo un predominio del sexo masculino (65,4 por ciento), adultos jóvenes (61 por ciento), nuevos casos (84,1 por ciento), forma pulmonar (84,4 por ciento), la tuberculosis activa (66,98 por ciento) y la ocurrencia de 05 casos (1,59 por ciento) con coinfección con el TB/HIV. En cuanto a la tendencia se observada reducción significativa para las mujeres (p = 0,015) y mayores (p = 0,04). Conclusiones: A pesar de las variaciones anuales de las tasas, fue notable una tendencia a la baja en la incidencia de casos de tuberculosis en la ciudad de Lagarto / SE. Es importante mantener e intensificar las intervenciones de control con las prioridades estratégicas centradas en la búsqueda activa de sintomáticos respiratorios, especialmente en lugares de difícil acceso a los lugares de servicios de salud(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease considered a serious public health problem in Brazil, with high prevalence in the North, Northeast and Midwest. Objective: To analyze time trends and describe the clinical and epidemiological features of tuberculosis cases in the city of Lagarto/SE, Northeast Brazil. Methods: We conducted a descriptive, retrospective and time series study, using secondary data of tuberculosis cases notified entre the period 2002 and 2012. The data sources used were the investigation chips of Information System of Notification of Diseases (SINAN). Temporal trends were analyzed by sex and age group by linear regression, considering p <0.05. Results: 315 cases of tuberculosis were reported, and the average incidence rate of 30.15 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. There was a decrease (31 percent) the incidence rate ranging from 31.51 (2002) to 21.74 (2012). There was a predominance of males (65.4 percent), young adults (61 percent) new cases (84.1 percent), pulmonary form (84.4 percent), active tuberculosis (66.98 percent) and the occurrence of 05 cases (1.59 percent) coinfection with TB/HIV. Regarding the trend was observed a significant reduction for females (p = 0.015) and older (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Despite annual variations in rates, a downward trend in the incidence of tuberculosis cases in the city of Lagarto/SE was noticeable. It is important to maintain and intensify control interventions with strategic priorities focused on active search for respiratory symptoms, especially in difficult to access to health services locations(AU)