EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION ADMITTED WITH LEPROSY IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO, FROM 2012 TO 2021

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594152405015

• Palavras-chave: Leprosy, elderly, Mato Grosso, hospitalization.

• Keywords: Leprosy, elderly, Mato Grosso, hospitalization.

• Abstract:

  Leprosy is an infectious disease, caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. Brazil ranks second in the number of cases detected in the world, with 13% of new global cases and an annual incidence of approximately 12 per 100,000 inhabitants. The central-west region has high rates of the disease, with rates of 33.84/100,000 inhabitants. The objective of this work was to describe the epidemiological profile of elderly people with leprosy who were hospitalized in the state of Mato Grosso, between 2012 and 2021. This is a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study with data from the hospital information system (SIH). The variables gender, age group, number of hospitalizations, year of hospitalization, character of hospitalization, main diagnosis, municipality of occurrence, group procedure, procedure performed and hospital stay were evaluated. It was demonstrated that the gender with the highest occurrence was male, 139 cases (78.98%), the main diagnosis was unspecified leprosy with 85 cases (48.30%). The study showed that records of hospitalizations for leprosy predominate in the age group between 60-69 years old, with a greater incidence of males. Most hospitalization cases were diagnosed with unspecified leprosy/other forms, on an urgent/emergency basis, public regime, with the medical clinic being the most requested specialty in the treatment of leprosy followed by amputations. There was a need to strengthen specific strategies for the elderly, especially in primary care, so that the diagnosis is made early and the treatment is timely.