Epidemiological Profile of AIds Cases in Adults Reported in the Southern Region of Brazil in 2024

The human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains an important global public health problem. In Brazil, according to the Ministry of Health, there has been stabilization in the detection rate of cases, but with an increase among young populations and vulnerable groups. Identifying the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory profile of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is fundamental for planning prevention and care actions. Thus, the study aims to characterize the epidemiological profile of young adults confirmed with AIDS in a state in the Southern Region of Brazil. Descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, conducted with data from 3,647 cases of young adults (19 to 59 years) with confirmed diagnosis of AIDS in the year 2024. The analysis was performed by means of descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test, with a significance level of 5%. There was a predominance of the male sex (74.0%), white race (57.4%). Most cases reside in large municipalities (78.7%), concentrating in the eastern macro-region (57.4%), especially in the Curitiba region (46.5%), in the urban/peri-urban zone (93.1%). Regarding schooling, 49.2% had ten years or more of study and 19.8% up to nine years. The main transmission route was sexual, with emphasis on relations between men (56.9%). Only 1.7% reported the use of injectable drugs. The screening and confirmatory laboratory tests were positive in 74.4% of cases. The most frequent opportunistic clinical conditions included cachexia (8.8%), asthenia (7.1%), fever (4.7%), and diarrhea (3.6%). 3.4% of cases progressed to death. The data show a profile concentrated in young men, urban population, with intermediate schooling, and predominantly sexual transmission between men. These findings reinforce the importance of specific strategies for prevention and screening aimed at key populations, as recommended by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.