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. 2014 Apr 3;9(4):e93770.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093770. eCollection 2014.

Mortality and case fatality due to visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil: a nationwide analysis of epidemiology, trends and spatial patterns

Francisco Rogerlândio Martins-Melo  1 , Mauricélia da Silveira Lima  1 , Alberto Novaes Ramos Jr  1 , Carlos Henrique Alencar  1 , Jorg Heukelbach  2
Affiliations

Mortality and case fatality due to visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil: a nationwide analysis of epidemiology, trends and spatial patterns

Francisco Rogerlândio Martins-Melo et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a significant public health problem in Brazil and several regions of the world. This study investigated the magnitude, temporal trends and spatial distribution of mortality related to VL in Brazil.

Methods: We performed a study based on secondary data obtained from the Brazilian Mortality Information System. We included all deaths in Brazil from 2000 to 2011, in which VL was recorded as cause of death. We present epidemiological characteristics, trend analysis of mortality and case fatality rates by joinpoint regression models, and spatial analysis using municipalities as geographical units of analysis.

Results: In the study period, 12,491,280 deaths were recorded in Brazil. VL was mentioned in 3,322 (0.03%) deaths. Average annual age-adjusted mortality rate was 0.15 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and case fatality rate 8.1%. Highest mortality rates were observed in males (0.19 deaths/100,000 inhabitants), <1 year-olds (1.03 deaths/100,000 inhabitants) and residents in Northeast region (0.30 deaths/100,000 inhabitants). Highest case fatality rates were observed in males (8.8%), ≥ 70 year-olds (43.8%) and residents in South region (17.7%). Mortality and case fatality rates showed a significant increase in Brazil over the period, with different patterns between regions: increasing mortality rates in the North (Annual Percent Change--APC: 9.4%; 95% confidence interval--CI: 5.3 to 13.6), and Southeast (APC: 8.1%; 95% CI: 2.6 to 13.9); and increasing case fatality rates in the Northeast (APC: 4.0%; 95% CI: 0.8 to 7.4). Spatial analysis identified a major cluster of high mortality encompassing a wide geographic range in North and Northeast Brazil.

Conclusions: Despite ongoing control strategies, mortality related to VL in Brazil is increasing. Mortality and case fatality vary considerably between regions, and surveillance and control measures should be prioritized in high-risk clusters. Early diagnosis and treatment are fundamental strategies for reducing case fatality of VL in Brazil.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Brazil with its regions and 27 Federative Units.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Trends of age-adjusted mortality rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) related to VL in Brazil and regions, 2000–2011.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Trends of case fatality rates related to VL in Brazil and regions, 2000–2011.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Spatial distribution of average annual mortality rates related to VL (per 100,000 inhabitants) based on multiple causes of death by municipalities of residence, Brazil, 2000–2011.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Spatial distribution of average annual mortality rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) related to VL after smoothing by Bayesian Local Empirical method by municipalities of residence, Brazil, 2000–2011.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Moran maps of average annual mortality rates related to VL by municipalities of residence, Brazil, 2000–2011.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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