Dados do Trabalho

Título

COVID-19 pandemic caused reduction of HIV/AIDS diagnosis and increase in late diagnosis related to AIDS mortality in Brazil

Introdução

In recent decades, humanity has faced two of the most severe viral epidemics in its history. The first, caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), emerged in the early 1980s, accounting for about 32 million deaths after the diagnosis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the second, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in December 2019, in the province of Wuhan, China and declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected global health worldwide, leading to the halt of numerous routine healthcare services and posing challenges in the efforts to control other diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Objetivo (s)

This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV/AIDS diagnoses and mortality rates in Brazil, during 2020 and 2021.

Material e Métodos

The percentage change was calculated to verify whether there was an increase or decrease in HIV/AIDS diagnosis and mortality, considering the average numbers of the last 5 years. Also, Joinpoint regression model and an interrupted time series analysis was applied to assess time trends before and after the onset of the pandemic. Lastly, choropleth maps were prepared.

Resultados e Conclusão

We observed a reduction of -22.4% (2020) and -9.8% (2021) on the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in Brazil. Conversely, there was a significant increase in the % of late diagnosis related to AIDS mortality in 2020 (6.9%) and 2021 (13.9%), and some states depicted an increase over 87%. Decreasing time trends on the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS were identified before the pandemic in Brazil, especially in the Southeast and South regions, and then time trends became stable, after including the pandemic years. Along with COVID-19 dissemination there was a reduction in the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, and an increase in late diagnosis related to AIDS mortality, signaling a serious impact of the pandemic on HIV/AIDS control strategies in Brazil. Therefore, we highlight the need for continuous efforts to control both diseases, that is maintaining regular health services even in crisis situations.

Palavras-chave

HIV/AIDS, late diagnosis, pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, Brazil.