CHAGAS DISEASE-RELATED MORTALITY TRENDS IN BRAZIL (1996-2021)

Resumo

Introduction: Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a prevalent tropical illness in Latin America. It is transmitted by vector insects and can lead to chronic cardiac and digestive complications, even death. Objective: Analyze the sociodemographic characteristics and geographical distribution of Chagas disease-related deaths in Brazil from 1996 to 2021. Methodology: This is a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional, and epidemiological study. The methodological strategy involved the analysis of epidemiological reports provided by the Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM) for the period between 1996 and 2021 in Brazil. Results/Discussion: A total of 124,255 deaths were reported, with Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Goiás, and Bahia being the states with the highest prevalence of notifications. Men, whites, married individuals, aged between 60 and 79 years, with a low level of education, are the most affected. 68.73% of the deaths occurred in hospitals. Conclusions: Chagas disease remains one of the main contributors to the decline of public health in Brazil. Implementing control measures and improving access to diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance to reduce the number of deaths.