EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN SANTA CATARINA BETWEEN 2013 AND 2023

Tuberculosis is a highly transmissible infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whose pathophysiology involves granuloma formation, bacillary latency, and subsequent pulmonary cavitation. Although curable, its control requires continuous surveillance, especially in vulnerable populations. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile of tuberculosis in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, between 2013 and 2023. A retrospective study was conducted using data available in the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Variables analyzed included sex, age group, clinical manifestation, and infection classification. During the analyzed period, 24.879 tuberculosis cases were recorded in Santa Catarina. In all evaluated years, the number of cases exceeded two thousand, except in 2020, when there was a reduction below this value. The disease predominantly affected males, representing 68.2% (16,965) of cases, while females accounted for only 31.8% (7,914). The 20–59-year age group was the most affected, comprising 79.3% (19,739) of infections, followed by 60–80 years with 13.1% (3,247), and 0–19 years with 7.6% (1,891). Regarding clinical manifestation, 81.2% (20,210) of cases were pulmonary, 13.1% (3,587) extrapulmonary, and 4.3% (1,081) mixed. Classification of extrapulmonary cases represents a failure in the notification system, as in 83.7% (20,212) of infections this information was not provided. Extrapulmonary clinical manifestations such as pleural, peripheral lymph node, and miliary accounted for 7.5% (1,863), 2.6% (645), and 2.2% (549) of cases, respectively. Other extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis, such as bone, ocular, meningoencephalic, cutaneous, and laryngeal, accounted for less than 2% of reported cases. According to the data, tuberculosis remains a relevant pathology in the epidemiology of Santa Catarina. These findings highlight the need for strategies to maintain and expand public policies aimed at tuberculosis control in the state, as well as complete reporting of notified cases.