EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRENDS OF HEPATITIS C IN BRAZIL (2013–2023): AN ANALYSIS OF NOTIFICATIONS FROM SINAN AND OUTCOMES IN DATASUS

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a chronic health condition of significant public health importance, associated with serious clinical outcomes, a high burden of morbidity and mortality, and persistent challenges regarding its elimination as a public health problem in Brazil. Despite therapeutic advances and the expansion of control strategies, the dynamics of detection and mortality related to the infection remain heavily influenced by regional inequalities, operational limitations in surveillance, and contextual impacts on information systems. This study aimed to analyze temporal trends in hepatitis C detection and mortality in Brazil, considering regional differences and their implications for epidemiological surveillance and health management. It is an ecological time-series study based on secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the Mortality Information System (SIM) for the period from 2013 to 2023. The analysis examined the evolution of detection and mortality rates, as well as the heterogeneity across regions and federal units. The results reveal fluctuations in detection rates throughout the period, linked to regulatory changes, variations in the availability of testing, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside marked territorial inequalities in the capacity to identify cases. Simultaneously, a downward trend in mortality is observed; however, this does not negate the existence of a significant number of undiagnosed chronic infections. It is concluded that addressing hepatitis C in Brazil requires the continuous strengthening of surveillance, expanded access to timely diagnosis, and effective integration between surveillance and clinical care—all of which are essential for achieving elimination goals and formulating more equitable public policies.