Increased Hospitalizations for Neuropathies as Indicators of Zika Virus Infection, according to Health Information System Data, Brazil.

Evidence is increasing that Zika virus can cause extensive damage to the central nervous system, affecting both fetuses and adults. We sought to identify traces of possible clinical manifestations of nervous system diseases among the registers of hospital admissions recorded in the Brazilian Unified Health System. Time series of several diagnoses from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, were analyzed by using control diagrams, during January 2008-February 2016. Beginning in mid-2014, we observed an unprecedented and significant rise in the hospitalization rate for congenital malformations of the nervous system, Guillain-Barré syndrome, encephalitis, myelitis, and encephalomyelitis. These conditions are compatible with viral infection and inflammation-associated manifestations and may have been due to the entrance of Zika virus into Brazil. These findings show the necessity of adequately diagnosing and treating suspected cases of Zika virus infection and also that health surveillance systems can be improved by using routine data.

An observatory to gather and disseminate information on the health-related effects of environmental and climate change.

This report sought to critically examine proposals, potentials, and challenges of environmental health observatories with an emphasis on climate change processes. A critical review of existing environmental health observatories was performed, examining their purposes, potential audiences, and technological platforms. The implementation of the Brazilian Climate and Health Observatory (C&HO) is described, and two stages are defined: (i) the requirement analysis and negotiation stage that identified the national and regional institutional players and their roles as data producers/users; and (ii) thematic health-related workshops that reviewed water-related diseases, vector-borne diseases, extreme climate events, and health problems derived from forest fires. The C&HO is an example of making information on climate and health available through an Internet site where data from different origins can be accessed on a common platform. Complex queries are made by users and can be executed over multiple sites, geographically distributed, with all technical details hidden from the end user. At this stage of the C&HO prototype, alongside the queries, users can also produce semi-qualitative graphs and maps. A multi-scale approach was developed using the platform by setting up sentinel sites. Building a successful observatory is a participatory process that involves choosing indicators, data sources, information technology, and languages to best reach different audiences, such as researchers, citizens, public health professionals, and decisionmakers.

Hospital morbidity due to paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil (1998-2006).

OBJECTIVE: To analyse hospital morbidity records due to paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil, including its nationwide distribution in time and space, as well as key epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: Descriptive analysis of hospital morbidity records due to paracoccidioidomycosis covering the period January 1998 to December 2006. Hospital records were obtained from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). RESULTS: There were 6732 hospitalisations (82% male) due to paracoccidioidomycosis in the period, representing 4.3 per 1.0 million inhabitants. Admissions due to this mycosis were recorded in 27% of the 5560 Brazilian municipalities, covering 35% of the country. Ten municipalities concentrated 52% of all admissions. The temporal distribution of admissions for paracoccidioidomycosis showed a slight increase. The geographical analysis showed two distinct patterns of the disease: (i) traditional areas of southern and south-eastern regions, covering 60% of admissions, and (ii) a second pattern in northern Brazil revealed a transverse band of higher concentration with about 27% of admissions, particularly along the southern border of the Amazon region. CONCLUSION: This first nationwide analysis of hospitalisation due to paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil shows that it is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Brazil. Despite its importance, there are major deficits in its proper registry, diagnostics and treatment. The particular epidemiological and medical challenges of paracoccidioidomycosis will not be met while the disease continues to be perceived as an isolated infectious entity restricted to a few faraway regions of the globe.

Covid-19 Fiocruz Observatory - an analysis of the evolution of the pandemic from February 2020 to April 2022. / Observatório Covid-19 Fiocruz - uma análise da evolução da pandemia de fevereiro de 2020 a abril de 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the living and working conditions of the entire population of Brazil, having a different and more intense effect on groups considered to be vulnerable. The objective of this article is to present an overview of the evolution of the pandemic in the country according to the bulletins of the Covid-19 Fiocruz Observatory in the period between the declarations of the beginning and end of the Public Health Emergency of National Concern (ESPIN, in Portuguese), February 2020 to April 2022. Several of the indicators adopted in the 69 bulletins published for the analysis of the pandemic were used, such as cases and deaths due to SARIs and COVID-19, age groups, % of occupancy of ICU beds, and vaccination, among others. The evolution analysis was organized between years and phases of the pandemic, seeking to highlight what characterized each moment. The closing statement of ESPIN in Brazil coincides with the discussions on the transition from a pandemic to an endemic scenario, without this representing the elimination of the virus, infections, and disease, posing the challenges of advances in vaccination processes in Brazil and around the world, as well as living with scenarios that may require the adoption of temporary protection measures in epidemic periods and periods of greater risk for vulnerable groups.

A pandemia de COVID-19 teve um imenso impacto nas condições de vida e trabalho de toda a população do país, impactando de modo diferenciado e mais intenso os grupos considerados vulneráveis. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar um panorama da evolução da pandemia no país segundo os boletins do Observatório Covid-19 Fiocruz, no período entre as declarações de início e de encerramento da Emergência em Saúde Pública de Importância Nacional (ESPIN), fevereiro de 2020 a abril de 2022. Foram utilizados diversos dos indicadores adotados nos 69 boletins publicados para a análise da pandemia, como casos e óbitos por SRAGs e COVID-19, grupos etários, taxas de ocupação de leitos UTI e vacinação, entre outros. A análise da evolução foi organizada entre anos e fases da pandemia, procurando destacar o que caracterizou cada momento. A declaração de encerramento da ESPIN no Brasil coincide com as discussões acerca da transição de pandemia para a endemia, sem que isso represente a eliminação do vírus, das infecções e da doença, colocando-se os desafios de avanços nos processos de vacinação no Brasil e no mundo e da convivência com cenários que poderão exigir a adoção de medidas de proteção temporárias em períodos epidêmicos e de maior risco para grupos vulneráveis.

How to overcome the stagnation of the first dose vaccine coverage curve against coronavirus disease 2019 in Brazil?

BACKGROUND: A large percentage of the population has not yet started vaccination, for which the increase in coverage is almost null. METHODS: We used segmented regression analysis to estimate trends in the first dose coverage curve. RESULTS: There has been a slowdown in the application of the first doses in Brazil since epidemiological week 36 (average percent change [APC] 0.83%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-0.91%), with a trend close to stagnation. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to develop strategies to increase access to vaccination posts. Furthermore, it is recommended to expand vaccination to children, thereby increasing the eligible population.

Involvement of political and socio-economic factors in the spatial and temporal dynamics of COVID-19 outcomes in Brazil: A population-based study.

Background: Brazil has been severely impacted by COVID-19 pandemics that is aggravated by the absence of a scientifically-driven coordinated informative campaign and the interference in public health management, which ultimately affected health measures to avoid SARS-CoV2 spread. The decentralization and resultant conflicts in disease control activities produced different protection behaviours and local government measures. In the present study, we investigated how political partisanship and socio-economic factors determined the outcome of COVID-19 at the local level in Brazil. Methods: A retrospective study of COVID-19 deaths was carried out using mortality databases between Feb 2020, and Jun 2021 for the 5570 Brazilian municipalities. Socio-economic parameters including city categories, income and inequality indexes, health service quality and partisanship, assessed by the result of the second round of the 2018 Brazilian presidential elections, were included. Regression tree analysis was carried out to identify the statistical significance and conditioning relationships of variables. Findings: Municipalities that supported then-candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the 2018 elections were those that had the worst COVID-19 mortality rates, mainly during the second epidemic wave of 2021. This pattern was observed even considering structural inequalities among cities. Interpretation: In general, the first phase of the pandemic hit large and central cities hardest, while the second wave mostly impacted Bolsonarian municipalities, where scientific denialism among the population was stronger. Negative effects of partisanship towards the right-wing on COVID-19 outcomes counterbalances favourable socioeconomic indexes in affluent Brazilian cities. Our results underscore the fragility of public health policies which were undermined by the scientific denialism of right-wing supporters in Brazil. Funding: International joint laboratories of Institute de Recherche pour le Développement, a partnership between the University of Brasília and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (LMI-Sentinela - UnB - Fiocruz - IRD), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Social school contacts of multibacillary leprosy cases in children living in the hyperendemic region of the Midwest of Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae detection and the associated factors among social contacts in the school environment of multibacillary cases living in a hyperendemic municipality of the state of Mato Grosso. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 236 social contacts of multibacillary leprosy from public schools and residents in Cuiabá (Mato Grosso) in 2018. The sources of information were interviews and nasal swab tests for molecular analysis by polymerase chain reaction - PCR. For the prevalence ratio estimates, crude and adjusted analyses were performed using robust Poisson regression and their respective confidence intervals (95% CI). The ArcGIS 9.1 software was used for the geographic distribution analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of detection of M. leprae in social contacts was 14%. A total of 63.6% of the schools surveyed had 5.1% to 50% of the social contacts of leprosy with positive PCR. The analysis of the geographic distribution in the neighborhoods showed a high prevalence of infection, being higher than 50% in some localities. The highest proportion of positive results occurred in the northern region of the city and from a precarious socioeconomic class. CONCLUSION: The results showed a high prevalence of detection of M. leprae among social contacts in areas with poor socioeconomic conditions. In these regions, there is a greater risk of infection and of getting sick.

[Floods and leptospirosis in Brazilian municipalities from 2003 to 2013: use of data mining techniques]. / Inundações e leptospirose nos municípios brasileiros no período de 2003 a 2013: utilização de técnicas de mineração de dados.

Leptospirosis is related to problems with environmental sanitation, and the incidence tends to increase during flood periods. Considering issues related to climate change, floods can be expected to increase. Floods do not affect populations homogeneously, and communities with worse socioeconomic conditions tend to be impacted more heavily. In order to determine whether the number of floods increases the incidence of leptospirosis and its relationship to contextual variables, the study used socioeconomic, environmental, and disease occurrence data at the municipal (county) level. Municipalities suffering problems with sewage disposal showed a higher risk of leptospirosis incidence. Total flooding since the municipality's declaration of flood emergency was an important risk marker for leptospirosis incidence. Regression tree modeling proved useful for estimating leptospirosis incidence in Brazil.

A leptospirose se relaciona a problemas de saneamento ambiental, com incremento de casos em períodos de inundações. Levando-se em consideração as questões relacionadas a mudanças climáticas, as inundações tendem a um aumento. As inundações não atingem as populações de maneira homogênea, em geral os menos favorecidos em termos socioeconômicos são os mais acometidos. Para saber se o número de inundações aumentaria a incidência de leptospirose e sua relação com as variáveis contextuais, utilizou-se dados socioeconômicos, ambientais e de ocorrência da doença no nível municipal. Os municípios que tinham problemas no esgotamento sanitário apresentaram maior risco para a ocorrência da leptospirose. O total de inundações adquirida a partir da decretação pela autoridade municipal constituiu um importante marcador de risco para a ocorrência de leptospirose. A modelagem de árvore de regressão mostrou-se útil para estimar a ocorrência de leptospirose no Brasil.

La leptospirosis se relaciona con problemas de saneamiento ambiental, así como con el incremento de casos en períodos de inundaciones. Teniendo en consideración las cuestiones relacionadas con el cambio climático, las inundaciones tienden a aumentar. Las inundaciones no afectan a las poblaciones de manera homogénea, en general, los menos favorecidos en términos socioeconómicos son los más afectados. Para saber si el número de inundaciones aumentaría la incidencia de leptospirosis, y su relación con variables contextuales, se utilizaron datos socioeconómicos, ambientales y de ocurrencia de la enfermedad en el nivel municipal. Los municipios que poseían problemas en el alcantarillado sanitario presentaron un mayor riesgo para la ocurrencia de leptospirosis. El total de inundaciones sufridas a partir de su reconocimiento oficial por parte de la autoridad municipal constituyó un importante marcador de riesgo para la ocurrencia de leptospirosis. El modelo de árbol de regresión se mostró útil para estimar la ocurrencia de leptospirosis en Brasil.

Spatial analysis of the origin-destination flow of admissions for severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by COVID-19 in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro. / Análise espacial do fluxo origem-destino das internações por síndrome respiratória aguda grave por COVID-19 na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro.

This study analyzed the inter-municipality flow of hospital admissions due to severe acute respiratory syndrome by COVID-19 in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. We identified 12,676 inter-municipality hospitalizations for COVID-19 involving the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. In total, 11,288 (89.0%) admissions were of residents of the Metropolitan Region (RM), 87% residents in other municipalities of the same region and admitted to hospitals from the state capital, and 13% residents of the capital admitted to hospitals from other municipalities in the RM. There was a negative correlation when it comes to the distance between cities and the origin-destination flow (r=0.62, p<0.001). The RM of the capital Rio de Janeiro imports more admissions for SARS by COVID-19 than it exports. This study highlights the importance of care networks intended for more severe cases that mainly require specialized care.

Este estudo analisou o fluxo intermunicipal das internações por síndrome respiratória aguda grave por COVID-19 na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro. Foram identificadas 12.676 internações intermunicipais por COVID-19 envolvendo o município do Rio de Janeiro. Dessas, 11.288 (89,0%) eram de residentes na região metropolitana, 87% de residentes em outros municípios da mesma região e internados na capital do estado, e 13% eram residentes da capital internados em outros municípios da região. Há correlação negativa entre a distância dos municípios e o fluxo origem-destino (r=0,62, p<0,001). O município do Rio de Janeiro importa mais internações por síndrome respiratória aguda grave por COVID-19 do que exporta. Este estudo evidenciou a importância das redes de atendimento para casos mais graves, os quais necessitem, principalmente, de atenção especializada.

Dengue spatiotemporal dynamics in the Federal District, Brazil: occurrence and permanence of epidemics. / Dinâmica espaço-temporal da dengue no Distrito Federal, Brasil: ocorrência e permanência de epidemias.

The specific characteristics of the Federal District (DF) favor the introduction, reproduction, dissemination, and permanence of dengue vector and viruses. Here, we aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of dengue epidemics in the Administrative Regions (RAs) of the DF from January 2007 to December 2017. We used Fourier partial series model to obtain a seasonal signature of the time series, which allowed calculating indicators of permanence (number of epidemic years, number of epidemic months per year, the proportion of epidemic months for the period) and time/moment of epidemics (month of epidemic peak). A total of 82 epidemics were recorded in this period. The RAs with the largest number of epidemic years were Varjão (5 epidemics), Gama, Lago Sul, and Sobradinho (4 epidemics). These last three RAs also had the highest proportions of epidemic months of the entire study period (9 epidemic months). The RAs with urban centrality function had an earlier epidemic peak than the others, in February and March. Epidemics showed high permanence values in RAs with different types of occupations, emphasizing the need to consider the social organization of space processes in dengue distribution studies.

[Natural disasters and their costs for healthcare establishments in Brazil, 2000 to 2015]. / Desastres naturais e seus custos nos estabelecimentos de saúde no Brasil no período de 2000 a 2015.

Natural disasters result in impacts on the population's health, damage to healthcare establishments, and, in extreme situations, the health systems' breakdown. National and global trends show an increase in the frequency of disasters associated with climate change. This article aims to analyze the impacts and economic costs of natural disasters for healthcare establishments, identifying the most frequent and costly types and distribution across the Brazilian territory, based on data recorded in Brazil's Integrated Disaster Information System (S2ID) from 2000 to 2015. A total of 15,950 records were systematized and analyzed, of which only 29.4% of the events showed records of costs, totaling nearly BRL 4 billion. Climate disasters were the most frequent, but they did not account for the highest costs. In the cost per event ratio, the costs of hydrological disasters were 3.2 to 3.6 higher than for climate and geologic disasters. Pernambuco, Amazonas, and Santa Catarina were the states with highest total costs in millions of Brazilian reais. The North region, especially the state of Acre, had the highest cost per disaster. Despite the study's limitations (involving the records' quality), the data should be viewed as the tip of an iceberg, since the impacts go beyond the economic damages, impacting the infrastructure and resources that support services, compromising their capacity precisely when the population most needs health services.

Is it time to talk about the end of social distancing? A joinpoint analysis of COVID-19 time series in Brazilian capitals.

INTRODUCTION: Monitoring coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related infections and deaths in Brazil is controversial, with increasing pressure to ease social distance measures. However, no evidence of a sustained, widespread fall in cases exists. METHODS: We used segmented (joinpoint) regression analysis to describe the behavior of COVID-19 infections in Brazilian capital cities. RESULTS: All capitals showed an exponential or a near-exponential increase in cases through May. A decline in reported cases was subsequently noted in 20 cities but was only significant for 8 (29.6%) and was followed in two by a renewed increase. CONCLUSIONS: Caution is warranted when considering the relaxation of restrictions.

Adherence to physical contact restriction measures and the spread of COVID-19 in Brazil. / Adesão às medidas de restrição de contato físico e disseminação da COVID-19 no Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the adherence of the population to physical contact restriction measures and the spread of COVID-19 in Brazil. METHODS: This was a web-based health survey carried out from April 24 to May 24 2020 using a chain sampling procedure. Intensity of adherence to physical contact restriction measures was analyzed according to sociodemographic characteristics, using logistic regression models to investigate associations with 'No/little adherence'. RESULTS: Of the 45,161 participants, 74.2% (73.8;74.6%) reported intense adherence to the measures. The group that did not adhere to the measures was characterized by men (31.7%), those aged 30 to 49 (36.4%), those with low education levels (33.0%), those who worked during the pandemic (81.3%), those resident in the North (28.1%) and Midwest (28.5%) regions of the country. In Brazil as a whole, there was a decrease in COVID-19 daily growth rates, from 45.4% to 5.0%. CONCLUSION: A large part of the Brazilian population adhered to physical contact restriction measures, which possibly contributed to decreasing the spread of COVID-19.

[Analytical study of the breast cancer patient flow network in Brazil from 2014 to 2016]. / Estudo de análise de rede do fluxo de pacientes de câncer de mama no Brasil entre 2014 e 2016.

This study aims to analyze the flow of breast cancer patients treated outside of their municipality of residence, based on hospital admissions and chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) from 2014 to 2016. Network analysis was used, considering the municipality of residence and of treatment as nodes in a graph, thus consisting of a "health system organizational network study". In addition, highway distances and travel time were estimated via the best feasible route according to the Open Street Maps highway project. According to the results, 51.34% of breast cancer patients in Brazil were treated outside their municipality of residence, following regionalized flows that respect state borders, generally towards the state capital or other large cities. The results also point to specific exceptions, where some municipalities occupy outstanding positions that extrapolate state borders. Median travel time from the municipality of residence to the municipality of care was nearly 3 hours, and 75% of trips totaled 324km for chemotherapy, 287km for radiotherapy, and 282km for hospitalizations. These results are indicative of the difficulties in access to oncology services, potentially aggravating the illness experience with cancer in terms of impact on the individuals and their families.

Este estudo busca analisar o fluxo de pacientes oncológicos de mama que são atendidos fora de seu domicílio de residência. Foram considerados as internações hospitalares e os tratamentos por quimioterapia e radioterapia para neoplasias malignas na mama, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde, entre os anos de 2014 e 2016. Foi empregado o método de análise de redes, considerando o município de residência e de tratamento como nós de um grafo, que consiste em um "estudo de redes organizacionais de sistemas de saúde". Além disso, distância e tempo de deslocamento foram estimados por meio da melhor rota viável, segundo a malha rodoviária do projeto Open Street Maps. Os resultados apontam que 51,34% dos pacientes de câncer de mama no Brasil foram atendidos fora de seu município de residência, seguindo fluxos que são regionalizados e que preservam fronteiras estaduais, em geral, em direção a capitais ou a cidades de grande porte. Por outro lado, os resultados também apontam exceções específicas, visto que alguns municípios detêm um grau de proeminência que supera os limites estaduais. O tempo de deslocamento entre município de residência e município de atendimento apresentou medianas próximas a três horas, e 75% dos deslocamentos se dão em até 324km para tratamento por quimioterapia, 287km para tratamento por radioterapia e 282km para internações. Esses resultados são indicativos das dificuldades de acesso aos serviços de oncologia, o que potencialmente agrava a experiência do adoecimento oncológico em termos de impacto no indivíduo e em sua família.

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el flujo de pacientes oncológicos con cáncer de mama que son atendidos fuera de su domicilio de residencia. Se consideraron internamientos hospitalarios, tratamientos por quimioterapia y radioterapia para neoplasias malignas de mama, dentro del ámbito del Sistema Único de Salud brasileño, entre los años de 2014 a 2016. Se empleó el método de análisis de redes, considerando como nudos de un grafo el municipio de residencia y el del tratamiento, formándose de esta forma un "estudio de redes organizativas de sistemas de salud". Asimismo, se estimaron las distancias viales y el tiempo de desplazamiento, a través de la mejor ruta de carreteras, según la red de carreteras del proyecto Open Street Maps. Los resultados apuntan que un 51,34% de los pacientes con cáncer de mama en Brasil fueron atendidos fuera de su municipio de residencia, siguiendo flujos regionalizados y dentro de sus fronteras estatales, en general, en dirección a las capitales de las mismas o grandes ciudades. Por otro lado, los resultados también muestran excepciones específicas, donde algunos municipios detentan un grado de relevancia superando las fronteras estatales. El tiempo de desplazamiento entre el municipio de residencia y el municipio de atención presentó unas medias cercanas a las 3 horas, y en un 75% de los desplazamientos se recorrieron hasta 324km para recibir tratamiento de quimioterapia, 287km para el tratamiento de radioterapia y 282km para internamientos. Estos resultados son indicativos de las dificultades de acceso a los servicios de oncología, lo que agrava potencialmente la experiencia de la enfermedad oncológica en términos de impacto en el individuo y su familia.

Spatial spread of malaria and economic frontier expansion in the Brazilian Amazon.

The temporal and spatial evolution of malaria was described for the postfrontier phase of the Brazilian Amazon in 2003-2013. The current ecological study aimed to understand the relationship between spatial population mobility and the distribution of malaria cases. The study identified epidemiologically relevant areas using regional statistical modeling and spatial analyses that considered differential infections and types of work activities. Annual parasite incidence (API) in the region was highest in hotspots along the Amazon River and in the south and west settlement zone of Hiléia, with concentrations in environmental protection areas and açaí and Brazil nut extraction areas. The dispersal force decreased in the Central Amazon due to rapid urbanization and improved socioeconomic conditions for workers in consolidated settlement areas. The study characterized the spatial patterns of disease transmission according to the economic activity and regionalization of geographic areas, confirming that the incidence of infection by work activity and labor flow is linked to extractive activities and agricultural settlements.

[Health Regions in Brazil based on hospital admissions: a method to support health regionalization]. / As Regiões de Saúde no Brasil segundo internações: método para apoio na regionalização de saúde.

This study addressed health regionalization on various spatial scales based on patient flow. The article analyzed data through data linkage on the origin and destination of admissions at the municipal level in Brazil in 2016. The analysis is based on graph theory and uses a modularity algorithm that seeks to group municipalities in communities with a large number of interlinks. The algorithm optimizes the number of hospital admissions and discharges, taking patient flow into account. The results are shown, considering different political and administrative spatial structures. Considering patient flow without spatial restrictions, 29 communities were created in the country, compared to 64 communities when the boundaries of the major geographic regions were respected, and 164 when considering only patient flows within the respective states. The results show the importance of historically constituted regions, ignoring formal administrative boundaries, in order to implement access to health services. They also reveal adherence to administrative boundaries in many states of Brazil, demonstrating this spatial scale's importance in the context of access to hospital admissions. The methodology makes relevant contributions to regional health planning.

Este estudo aborda as regionalizações da saúde em várias escalas espaciais com base no fluxo de pacientes. Para isso, foram analisados dados por meio do relacionamento das informações de origem e destino das interações realizadas em nível municipal no Brasil em 2016. A análise tem como base a teoria dos grafos e utiliza um algoritmo de modularidade que busca agrupar municípios em comunidades que detêm grande número de conexões entre si. O algoritmo otimiza o número de entradas e saídas, levando em consideração o fluxo de pacientes. Os resultados são apresentados considerando diferentes estruturas espaciais político-administrativas. Levando-se em conta o fluxo de pacientes sem restrições espaciais foram constituídas 29 comunidades no país, 64 comunidades quando respeitados os limites das grandes regiões e 164 considerando os deslocamentos apenas dentro dos estados. Os resultados demonstram a importância de regiões historicamente constituídas, desconsiderando limites administrativos, para a efetivação do acesso a serviços de saúde. Também revelam a aderência aos limites administrativos em muitas Unidades da Federação, demonstrando a importância dessa escala espacial no contexto do acesso às internações. A metodologia usada traz contribuições relevantes para o planejamento regional em saúde.

Este estudio aborda las regionalizaciones en salud dentro de varias escalas espaciales, basadas en el flujo de pacientes. Para tal fin, se analizaron datos a través de la relación existente entre la información de origen y destino, procedente de interacciones realizadas a nivel municipal en Brasil durante 2016. El análisis está basado en la teoría de los grafos y utiliza un algoritmo de modularidad que busca agrupar municipios en comunidades que cuentan con un gran número de conexiones entre sí. El algoritmo optimiza el número de entradas y salidas, teniendo en consideración el flujo de pacientes. Los resultados se presentan considerando las diferentes estructuras espaciales político-administrativas. Considerando el flujo de pacientes sin restricciones espaciales, se constituyeron 29 comunidades en el país, 64 comunidades respetando los límites de las grandes regiones, y 164 considerando desplazamientos sólo dentro de los estados. Los resultados demuestran la importancia de las regiones históricamente constituidas, desconsiderando límites administrativos, para hacer efectivo el acceso a servicios de salud. También revelan la adherencia a los límites administrativos en muchas Unidades Federales, demostrando la importancia de esta escala espacial en el contexto del acceso a los internamientos. La metodología utilizada aporta contribuciones relevantes para la planificación regional en salud.

[Intraurban differentials in congenital syphilis: a predictive analysis by neighborhood in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Diferenciais intraurbanos da sífilis congênita: análise preditiva por bairros do Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

The study aimed to characterize notified cases of congenital syphilis from 2011 to 2014 in the city of Rio de Janeiro and to analyze possible associations between congenital syphilis and living conditions in the city's neighborhoods. Cases of congenital syphilis were characterized according to biological and socioeconomic variables and health services use. At the aggregate level, regression tree technique was used for the data analysis, with mean incidence rate (2011-2014) of congenital syphilis as the dependent variable and housing quality, schooling, income, teenage pregnancy, poverty density, access to prenatal care, and skin color as independent variables. The dependent variable was mapped to identify spatial patterns. The SINAN, SINASC, and IBGE databases were used for notifiable diseases, live births, and census data, respectively. A total of 6,274 cases of congenital syphilis were reported, which represents an incidence rate of 17.3 cases/1,000 live births. Cases were distributed in the central, northern peripheral, and western zones of the city, with a high proportion of cases in infants of black mothers with low schooling. There was also a high proportion of pregnant women with late diagnosis of syphilis and inadequate treatment. At the aggregate level, the most relevant variable for explaining the problem was the low proportion of pregnant women with at least 7 prenatal visits. The analysis allowed the identification of marginalized population segments and can help direct public health resources more effectively.

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os casos notificados de sífilis congênita no período de 2011 a 2014, no Município do Rio de Janeiro, e analisar possíveis associações entre a morbidade por sífilis congênita e as condições de vida das populações residentes nos bairros da cidade. Os casos de sífilis congênita foram caracterizados de acordo com variáveis biológicas, socioeconômicas e de utilização de serviços de saúde. No nível agregado, utilizou-se a árvore de regressão como técnica de análise de dados, tendo a taxa de incidência média (2011-2014) de sífilis congênita como variável dependente, e indicadores relativos à qualidade habitacional, educação, renda, gravidez na adolescência, densidade de pobres, acesso à assistência pré-natal e cor da pele como variáveis independentes. Houve mapeamento da variável dependente para a identificação de padrões espaciais. Utilizaram-se dados do SINAN, SINASC e IBGE. Foram notificados 6.274 casos de sífilis congênita, o que representa uma taxa de incidência de 17,3 casos/mil nascidos vivos. Os casos se distribuem preponderantemente na zona central, norte suburbana e oeste da cidade, com elevada proporção de casos com baixa escolaridade e de cor da pele negra. Observou-se alta proporção de gestantes que tiveram diagnóstico tardio de sífilis e tratamento inadequado. No nível agregado, a variável mais relevante para a explicação dos problemas foi a baixa proporção de gestantes que frequentaram, no mínimo, sete consultas de assistência pré-natal. A análise permitiu a identificação de segmentos de populações marginalizadas, podendo direcionar de maneira efetiva a distribuição de recursos de saúde pública.

El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar los casos notificados de sífilis congénita, durante el período de 2011 a 2014, en el municipio de Río de Janeiro, analizar posibles asociaciones entre la morbilidad por sífilis congénita, y las condiciones de vida de las poblaciones residentes en los barrios de la ciudad. Los casos de sífilis congénita fueron caracterizados de acuerdo a variables biológicas, socioeconómicas y de utilización de servicios de salud. En el nivel agregado, se utilizó el árbol de regresión como técnica de análisis de datos, considerando la tasa de incidencia media (2011-2014) de sífilis congénita como variable dependiente, e indicadores relativos a la calidad habitacional, educación, renta, embarazo en la adolescencia, densidad de pobres, acceso a la asistencia prenatal y color de piel como variables independientes. Hubo un mapeo de la variable dependiente para la identificación de patrones espaciales. Se utilizaron datos del SINAN, SINASC e IBGE. Se notificaron 6.274 casos de sífilis congénita, lo que representa una tasa de incidencia de 17,3 casos/1.000 nacidos vivos. Los casos se distribuyen preponderantemente en la zona central, norte suburbana y oeste de la ciudad, con una elevada proporción de casos con baja escolaridad y con color de piel negro. Se observó una alta proporción de gestantes que tuvieron un diagnóstico tardío de sífilis y tratamiento inadecuado. En el nivel agregado, la variable más relevante para la explicación de los problemas fue la baja proporción de gestantes que frecuentaron, al menos, 7 consultas de asistencia prenatal. El análisis permitió la identificación de segmentos de poblaciones marginadas, pudiendo dirigir de manera efectiva la distribución de recursos de salud pública.

Leprosy in individuals under the age of fifteen in priority cities, Mato Grosso, Brazil. / Hanseníase em menores de quinze anos em municípios prioritários, Mato Grosso, Brasil.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the sociodemographic, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of individuals under the age of 15, reported to have leprosy, and who lived in priority and non-priority cities, as well as to compare the spatial distribution of these reported cases in such cities. This is a cross-sectional study of new leprosy cases in individuals under the age of 15 (n=429) registered in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases from the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, between 2011 and 2013. The diagnosed cases were compared regarding sociodemographic, clinical and epidemiological aspects using the chi-square test at a 5% significance level. The spatial distribution was made through ArcGIS 10.2 software. RESULTS: Of the 141 assessed cities in the state, according to the spatial distribution, 58.1% (n=82) showed a high, very high and hyper-endemic mean incidence coefficient, and, of these, 34.1% (n=28) include the group of priority municipalities. Of the new cases included in the study, 73.9% (n=317) were reported in priority cities. We observed a difference in the proportion of cases registered among the cities, with a greater proportion in priority cities, in the age group from five to nine years old (χ²=4.09; p=0.043), in the white race (χ²=7.01; p=0.008) and in the tuberculoid clinical form (χ²=3.89; p=0.048). There was a greater proportion in non-priority cases with regard to non-urban areas (χ²=24.23; p<0.001), two to five skin lesions (χ²=5.93; p=0.014) and spontaneous demand (χ²=6.16; p=0.013). CONCLUSION: The differences highlighted regarding clinical and epidemiological characteristics between the cities demonstrate the difficulty of endemic control in both municipality groups.

OBJETIVOS: Comparar as características sociodemográficas, clínicas e epidemiológicas de indivíduos menores de 15 anos notificados com hanseníase entre os municípios prioritários e os não prioritários, bem como a distribuição espacial destes casos registrados em tais municípios. Trata-se de um estudo transversal a partir de casos novos de hanseníase em menores de 15 anos (n=429) registrados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação do estado de Mato Grosso, entre 2011 e 2013. Os casos diagnosticados foram comparados quanto aos aspectos sociodemográficos, clínicos e epidemiológico por meio do teste do qui-quadrado ao nível de significância de 5%. A distribuição espacial foi feita por meio do software ArcGis 10.2. RESULTADOS: Dos 141 municípios do estado avaliados segundo a distribuição espacial, 58,1% (n=82) apresentaram coeficiente médio de incidência alto, muito alto e hiperendêmico, sendo que, destes, 34,1% (n=28) contemplam o grupo dos prioritários. Dos casos novos incluídos no estudo, 73,9% (n=317) foram notificados em municípios prioritários. Observou-se diferença na proporção de casos registrados entre os municípios, com maior proporção nos prioritários quanto à idade de 5 a 9 anos (χ²=4,09; p=0,043), raça branca (χ²=7,01; p=0,008) e forma clínica tuberculoide (χ²=3,89; p=0,048), e maior proporção nos não prioritários quanto à zona não urbana (χ²=24,23; p<0,001), duas a cinco lesões (χ²=5,93; p=0,014) e demanda espontânea (χ²=6,16; p=0,013). CONCLUSÃO: As diferenças evidenciadas em relação às características clínicas e epidemiológicas entre os municípios demonstram a dificuldade de controle da endemia em ambos os grupos de municípios.

Social Determinants, Conditions and Performance of Health Services in Latin American Countries, Portugal and Spain. / Determinantes sociais, condicionantes e desempenho dos serviços de saúde em países da América Latina, Portugal e Espanha.

Comparison can be an important resource for identifying trends or interventions that improve the quality of health services. Although Portugal and Spain have accumulated important knowledge in primary health care-PHC driven national systems, the Ibero-American countries have not been object of comparative studies. This paper presents an assessment using an analytical dashboard created by the Ibero-American Observatory on Policies and Health Systems. It discusses aspects that have stood out in monitoring the service systems of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Paraguay, Peru, and Portugal throughout the 21st century's first decade. Forty-five indicators and time series showing the highest completeness degree divided into social determinants, conditions and performance were analyzed. Three trends are common to almost all countries: overweight increase, negative trade balance for pharmaceutical products, and an increase in health system expenditure. This convergence trend reveals the need for changes in the way of regulating, organizing and delivering health services with public policies and practices that guarantee comprehensive care, including health promotion actions enabling systems sustainability.

A comparação é um recurso importante para identificar tendências ou intervenções que melhorem a qualidade dos serviços. Os países ibero-americanos não têm sido objeto de estudos dessa ordem, embora Portugal e Espanha venham acumulando um conhecimento relevante na condução de sistemas nacionais orientados pela atenção primária. O trabalho apresenta os resultados da matriz analítica do Observatório Iberoamericano de Políticas e Sistemas de Saúde, discutindo aspectos que se destacaram no acompanhamento dos sistemas de serviços da Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia, Espanha, Paraguai, Peru e Portugal, ao longo da primeira década do século XXI. Foi feita a análise de séries temporais de quarenta e cinco indicadores que apresentavam maior grau de completitude, divididos em determinantes sociais, condicionantes e desempenho. Três tendências são comuns a quase todos os países: aumento de sobrepeso, desequilíbrio da balança comercial em produtos farmacêuticos e aumento nos gastos dos sistemas. Este padrão de convergência mostra a necessidade de mudanças no modo de regular, organizar e prestar serviços com práticas e políticas públicas que garantam um cuidado integral, mas incorporem ações intersetoriais e de promoção permitindo a sustentabilidade dos sistemas.

Observatório Covid-19 Fiocruz - uma análise da evolução da pandemia de fevereiro de 2020 a abril de 2022 / Covid-19 Fiocruz Observatory - an analysis of the evolution of the pandemic from February 2020 to April 2022

Resumo A pandemia de COVID-19 teve um imenso impacto nas condições de vida e trabalho de toda a população do país, impactando de modo diferenciado e mais intenso os grupos considerados vulneráveis. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar um panorama da evolução da pandemia no país segundo os boletins do Observatório Covid-19 Fiocruz, no período entre as declarações de início e de encerramento da Emergência em Saúde Pública de Importância Nacional (ESPIN), fevereiro de 2020 a abril de 2022. Foram utilizados diversos dos indicadores adotados nos 69 boletins publicados para a análise da pandemia, como casos e óbitos por SRAGs e COVID-19, grupos etários, taxas de ocupação de leitos UTI e vacinação, entre outros. A análise da evolução foi organizada entre anos e fases da pandemia, procurando destacar o que caracterizou cada momento. A declaração de encerramento da ESPIN no Brasil coincide com as discussões acerca da transição de pandemia para a endemia, sem que isso represente a eliminação do vírus, das infecções e da doença, colocando-se os desafios de avanços nos processos de vacinação no Brasil e no mundo e da convivência com cenários que poderão exigir a adoção de medidas de proteção temporárias em períodos epidêmicos e de maior risco para grupos vulneráveis.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the living and working conditions of the entire population of Brazil, having a different and more intense effect on groups considered to be vulnerable. The objective of this article is to present an overview of the evolution of the pandemic in the country according to the bulletins of the Covid-19 Fiocruz Observatory in the period between the declarations of the beginning and end of the Public Health Emergency of National Concern (ESPIN, in Portuguese), February 2020 to April 2022. Several of the indicators adopted in the 69 bulletins published for the analysis of the pandemic were used, such as cases and deaths due to SARIs and COVID-19, age groups, % of occupancy of ICU beds, and vaccination, among others. The evolution analysis was organized between years and phases of the pandemic, seeking to highlight what characterized each moment. The closing statement of ESPIN in Brazil coincides with the discussions on the transition from a pandemic to an endemic scenario, without this representing the elimination of the virus, infections, and disease, posing the challenges of advances in vaccination processes in Brazil and around the world, as well as living with scenarios that may require the adoption of temporary protection measures in epidemic periods and periods of greater risk for vulnerable groups.