Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on tuberculosis occurrence according to sex in São Paulo State, Brazil
1
1Maternal and Child Health and Public Health Department, Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
2
2Department of Mathematics, School of Science and Technology, Universidade de Évora,, Évora, Portugal
3
3Departament of Nursing, Municipal University Centre of Franca (Uni-FACEF), Franca, Brazil
4
4Department of Clinical Medicine, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
5
5 Departament Comunicable Diseases, Center of Epidemiological Surveillance in Sao Paulo State, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1287
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, even in the presence of effective diagnostic methods and treatment options. The covid-19 pandemic intensified this scenario by disrupting health services and, consequently, causing diagnostic delays (1,2).
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the sociodemographic profile and diagnostic detection patterns of pulmonary TB cases according to sex in the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods in São Paulo State, Brazil.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using newly diagnosed pulmonary TB cases reported in São Paulo State between January 2014 and June 2024. Three periods were defined: pre-pandemic (01/01/2014–02/28/2020), pandemic (03/01/2020–04/30/2023), and post-pandemic (05/01/2023–06/30/2024). Variables analyzed included sex, age group, race/skin color, education level, and mode of case detection, using absolute and relative frequency distribution.
RESULTS:
A predominance of male cases was observed (74%), with a slight increase in the proportion of women in the post-pandemic period. The highest concentration of cases occurred among individuals aged 18–40 years (58.1% among men and 56.2% among women), with a progressive reduction in the 18–30 and 51–60 age groups over the study period. Regarding race/skin color, 86.5% of men and 86.4% of women self-identified as White/Brown, with a modest increase among Black and Brown individuals in the post-pandemic period. In terms of education, 77.7% of men and 79.1% of women had 4–11 years of schooling. Post-mortem diagnosis occurred in 1.3% of men and 1.1% of women. In the post-pandemic period, a slight increase in post-mortem detection and a reduction in in-hospital diagnosis were observed.
CONCLUSIONS:
TB control strategies should incorporate gender-sensitive approaches that address specific vulnerabilities and social determinants of health (education, access to health services, working age), particularly during health crises, when the risk of exacerbating inequalities becomes greater.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, even in the presence of effective diagnostic methods and treatment options. The covid-19 pandemic intensified this scenario by disrupting health services and, consequently, causing diagnostic delays (1,2).
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the sociodemographic profile and diagnostic detection patterns of pulmonary TB cases according to sex in the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods in São Paulo State, Brazil.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using newly diagnosed pulmonary TB cases reported in São Paulo State between January 2014 and June 2024. Three periods were defined: pre-pandemic (01/01/2014–02/28/2020), pandemic (03/01/2020–04/30/2023), and post-pandemic (05/01/2023–06/30/2024). Variables analyzed included sex, age group, race/skin color, education level, and mode of case detection, using absolute and relative frequency distribution.
RESULTS:
A predominance of male cases was observed (74%), with a slight increase in the proportion of women in the post-pandemic period. The highest concentration of cases occurred among individuals aged 18–40 years (58.1% among men and 56.2% among women), with a progressive reduction in the 18–30 and 51–60 age groups over the study period. Regarding race/skin color, 86.5% of men and 86.4% of women self-identified as White/Brown, with a modest increase among Black and Brown individuals in the post-pandemic period. In terms of education, 77.7% of men and 79.1% of women had 4–11 years of schooling. Post-mortem diagnosis occurred in 1.3% of men and 1.1% of women. In the post-pandemic period, a slight increase in post-mortem detection and a reduction in in-hospital diagnosis were observed.
CONCLUSIONS:
TB control strategies should incorporate gender-sensitive approaches that address specific vulnerabilities and social determinants of health (education, access to health services, working age), particularly during health crises, when the risk of exacerbating inequalities becomes greater.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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