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. 2023 Jul 1;25(4):97936.
doi: 10.15446/rsap.V25n4.97936. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Space-time patterns and associated factors of leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2008-2016

Elena M Hurtado  1 , Camila S Fonseca de Oliveira  2 , Marcelo Teixeira Pava  3 , Mariana Olímpia Kòhler Marra Morato  4 , David Soeiro Barbosa  5 , Danielle Ferreira de Magalhães Soares  6
Affiliations

Space-time patterns and associated factors of leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2008-2016

Elena M Hurtado et al. Rev Salud Publica (Bogota). .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: To analyze the space-time aspects and epidemiological characteristics of leishmaniasis in Colombia from 2008 to 2016.

Methodology: This was an cross-sectional and ecological study of the morbidity and mortality from leishmaniasis and its spatial, temporal, and socio-demographic associated factors based on reported cases of ACL and VL obtained from the National Public Health Surveillance System (Sivigila) of the Ministry of Health of Colombia.

Results: In all, 99,503 cases of leishmaniasis were reported in Colombia in the 9-year period (2008-2016), where ACL accounted for 99.78% of the cases, with 14 deaths, and VL accounted for 0.21% of the cases, with four deaths. People living in the rural areas were the most affected by both forms of leishmaniasis. In the spatial analysis, ACL was widely distributed in Colombian territory, but the patterns of occurrence were not consistent throughout the study period. Further, the majority of the population affec-ted by VL resided in the Caribbean and Central regions, during the second three-year study period, indicating dispersion of the disease.

Conclusions: The recent epidemiological patterns of leishmaniasis show variations in morbidity and mortality, with a higher incidence of ACL than of VL and high concentration of cases in certain regions of Colombia. This study contributes to a better unders-tanding of this important public health problem so that measures to control the spread of this disease in Colombia can be intensified.

Objetivo: Analizar los aspectos espaciotemporales y las características epidemiológicas de la leishmaniasis en Colombia de 2008 a 2016.

Metodología: Se trata de un estudio transversal y ecológico de la morbilidad y mortalidad por leishmaniasis y sus factores espaciales, temporales y sociodemográficos asociados, con base en casos reportados de LCA y LV obtenidos del Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia en Salud Pública (Sivigila) del Ministerio de Salud de Colombia.

Resultados: En total, se notificaron 99 503 casos de leishmaniasis en Colombia en el periodo de 9 años (2008-2016), donde el LCA representó el 99,78% de los casos, con 14 defunciones, y la LV representó el 0,21% de los casos, con cuatro fallecidos. Las personas que viven en las zonas rurales fueron las más afectadas por ambas formas de leishmaniasis. En el análisis espacial, el LCA se distribuyó ampliamente en el territorio colombiano, pero los patrones de ocurrencia no fueron consistentes a lo largo del periodo de estudio. Además, la mayoría de la población afectada por LV residió en las regiones del Caribe y Centro, durante el segundo periodo de estudio de tres años, lo que indica la dispersión de la enfermedad.

Conclusiones: Los patrones epidemiológicos recientes de la leishmaniasis muestran variaciones en la morbimortali-dad, con mayor incidencia de LCA que de LV y alta concentración de casos en algunas regiones de Colombia. Este estudio contribuye a una mejor comprensión de este importante problema de salud pública para que se puedan intensificar las medidas para controlar la propagación de esta enfermedad en Colombia.

Keywords: Colombia; Visceral leishmaniasis; cutaneous leishmaniasis; epidemiology (source: MeSH, NLM).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Map of the regions of Colombia
Figure 2
Figure 2. Temporal distribution of reported cases and deaths due to American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2008-2016
Figure 3
Figure 3. Temporal distribution of reported cases and deaths due to visceral leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2008-2016
Figure 4
Figure 4. Distribution of American cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in Colombia, 2008-2016
Figure 5
Figure 5. Distribution of visceral leishmaniasis cases in Colombia, 2008-2016
Figure 6
Figure 6. Distribution of American cutaneous leishmaniasis cases according to LISA standard of clusters in Colombia, 2008-2016
Figure 7
Figure 7. Distribution of visceral leishmaniasis cases according to LISA standard of Clusters in Colombia, 2008-2016
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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