Tuberculosis is a transmissible disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis . This pathology remains an important public health problem, with a significant burden in Brazil. Despite the possibility of cure, the advent of the pandemic caused interruptions in health services, leading to diagnostic delays and a reduction in notifications. In this context, analyzing consolidated data up to 2023 allows evaluation of whether there has been progress or regression in disease control. Ecological, descriptive, and retrospective study using data from the Tuberculosis Epidemiological Bulletin 2024 (Brazilian Ministry of Health), Tabnet/DATASUS, and the World Health Organization. The period analyzed was from 2019 to 2023. New cases, incidence rate, and mortality rate were explored, as well as profiles by sex, age, and vulnerability. Data were organized in electronic spreadsheets. In 2019, 96,083 new tuberculosis cases were recorded in Brazil. In 2020, during the pandemic, there was a decrease to 86,155 cases. In 2021, 84,763 cases were recorded. Subsequently, in 2022, the number increased to 91,354 cases. In 2023, 80,012 cases were reported. The incidence rate remained between 34 and 35 cases per 100,000 inhabitants throughout the period. The states with the highest incidence in 2023 were Amazonas (81.6/100,000) and Rio de Janeiro (70.7/100,000). The North and Southeast regions maintained the highest rates. Most cases occurred in men aged 20 to 39 years. In 2023, 82.3% of cases were tested for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus); 9.3% had TB-HIV coinfection and, among these, 49.8% were on ART (antiretroviral therapy). The tuberculosis mortality rate in 2022 was 3.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, with 1,839 deaths recorded. Based on data analyzed between 2019 and 2023, stabilization of tuberculosis rates is observed, with a slight reduction in 2023. However, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted records in 2020 and 2021, with subsequent recovery. Regional inequalities persist, particularly in the North and Southeast regions. The sociodemographic profile remains stable, with predominance among young men. Despite increased testing and access to ART, TB-HIV coinfection remains a concern. Although indicators are stable, significant advances are lacking, reinforcing the need to intensify public policies and actions targeting vulnerable populations.
Stocki et al. (Sun,) studied this question.