Sociodemographic profile of tuberculosis in the state of São Paulo before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: to describe the sociodemographic profile of patients in the state of São Paulo with Tuberculosis in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: the study was carried out by collecting data in the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) linked to DATASUS, according to the State's processing variables in 2019-2022 concerning Tuberculosis diagnoses. Results: between 2019 and 2022, 69,053 cases of TB were reported in the State of São Paulo. The largest number of cases occurred after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 (27.12%). As for mortality, there was an increase during the period analyzed, with 2022 being the year with the highest rate. There was a reduction in notifications between 2020 and 2021. Regarding race, the incidence is predominant in black people, followed by indigenous people. In 2020 and 2021, in white people, the incidence was 5.21%, brown people 11.98%, black people 19.54%, yellow people 4.86%, and indigenous people 13.29%. Regarding gender, more than half of the cases were attributed to males (72.1%). Conclusion: it is necessary to return financial investments in primary care with a focus on eradicating Tuberculosis, as it is one of the pathologies impacted by COVID-19.