Geography and public health: analysis of the epidemiological dynamics of meningitis in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019

• Published in: Revista brasileira de epidemiologia Vol. 27; p. e240031
• Main Authors: Silva, Luis Roberto da, Arruda, Laís Eduarda Silva de, Barreto, Isabel de Jesus Brandão, Aragão, João Victor Rodrigues de, Silva, Maria Luiza Ferreira Imburana da, Lira, Guilherme, Teixeira, Camila Maria Barros, Oliveira, Emília Carolle Azevedo de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva 2024; Associação Brasileira de Pós -Graduação em Saúde Coletiva; Associação Brasileira de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Epidemiologic factors; Female; Health Policy & Services; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Meningitis; Meningitis - epidemiology; Meningitis - mortality; Meningitis, Bacterial - epidemiology; Meningitis, Bacterial - mortality; Middle Aged; Original; Prevalence; Public Health; Spatial analysis; Spatio-Temporal Analysis; Time Factors; Time series studies; Vaccine-preventable diseases; Young Adult; Brazil; Fatores epidemiológicos; Estudos de séries temporais; Time series studies; Análise espacial; Saúde pública; Doenças preveníveis por vacina; Vaccine-preventable diseases; Spatial analysis; Meningitis; Epidemiologic factors; Meningite; Public health
• ISSN: 1980-5497; 1415-790X; 1980-5497
• DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720240031

To analyze the spatiotemporal epidemiological dynamics of meningitis in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019. Descriptive ecological study with cases and deaths due to meningitis in Brazil (2010-2019) in the National Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sistema de Informações de Agravos de Notificação - SINAN). The following analyses were performed: (I) frequency analyses of cases and deaths, prevalence rates, mortality, lethality, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square test; (II) Prais-Winstein regression; and (III) Global, Local Moran's index, and Kernel density. 182,126 cases of meningitis were reported in Brazil, of which 16,866 (9.26%) resulted in death, with prevalence rates of 9.03/100,000 inhabitants, mortality of 0.84/100,000 inhabitants, and lethality of 9.26%. There was a noted trend of decreasing prevalence rates (-9.5%, 95% confidence interval - 95%CI -13.92; -4.96, p<0.01) and mortality (-11.74%, 95%CI -13.92; -9.48, p<0.01), while lethality remained stable (-2.08%, 95%CI -4.9; 0.8; p<0.1941). The majority of cases were viral meningitis (45.7%), among 1-9 years old (32.2%), while the highest proportion of deaths was due to bacterial meningitis (68%), among 40-59 years old (26.3%). In the Moran and Kernel maps of prevalence and mortality rates, municipalities in the South, Southeast, and the capital of Pernambuco in the Northeast stood out with high rates; as for lethality, the North, Northeast, and Southeast coastal areas were highlighted. A decrease in meningitis cases and deaths was found in this study; however, the lethality rate was higher in areas with lower prevalence, emphasizing the need to enhance actions for identifying, monitoring, and providing health care for cases, as well as expanding vaccination coverage.