Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes diagnosticados com hepatite viral de 2010 a 2020 na cidade de Passo Fundo/RS

Abstract

Introduction: Introduction: Viral hepatitis are serious health conditions caused by various globally distributed pathogens. Although they share similarities in terms of public health impact, they show significant variations regarding epidemiology and disease progression. These liver infections represent a major public health challenge and are caused by different hepatotropic viruses, each with distinct epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. Objective: To outline the epidemiological profile of patients diagnosed with viral hepatitis in the city of Passo Fundo/RS from 2012 to 2020.Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study in which data were collected from DATASUS for the period from 2012 to 2020, aiming to identify sex, age group, race, etiological agent, and the year with the highest number of reported cases. Results: A higher percentage of viral hepatitis diagnoses was observed among males. The age group with the highest number of records was 40 to 59 years, followed by 20 to 39 years, indicating a higher impact on adults in their productive years. There was a predominance of cases among the white population, which may be related to the demographic profile of the municipality. The etiological agent with the highest number of notifications was hepatitis C, representing the main form of viral hepatitis identified during the analyzed period, with 2016 being the year with the highest number of reported cases. Conclusion: The findings partially reflect national and international patterns but also reveal local specificities that should be considered in public health planning. Further studies are necessary to clarify underexplored parameters.