Dengue is a viral arboviral disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, with increasing incidence in Brazil. Climatic factors, urbanization, and low population immunity favor outbreaks. This study aimed to analyze the temporal, geographic, and demographic distribution of dengue incidence and mortality in Santa Catarina between 2020 and 2023. This ecological descriptive study analyzed dengue cases reported to SINAN from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, including all 295 municipalities in Santa Catarina. Variables included age, sex, race, outcome, and area of residence. Data were extracted from TABNET and IBGE, organized in Excel, and spatialized using thematic maps in QGIS. Incidence rates were calculated per 1,000 inhabitants. A total of 446,628 cases were reported, of which 101,262 were confirmed by NS1 testing. There was annual growth in incidence, increasing from 3 cases per 1,000 inhabitants in 2020 to 32 cases per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023. Seasonality showed peaks between April and May. Adults aged 35 to 49 years were the most affected. There was a slight predominance of females (231,187 cases) and individuals of White race (352,852). The regions of Greater Florianópolis, the mouth of the Itajaí River, and the Greater West concentrated the highest incidence rates, with Joinville being the city with the highest number of cases and accounting for approximately 40% of deaths in 2023. Urban areas accounted for 388,208 cases. The highest lethality rate was observed in 2022 (0.62 per 1,000 infected individuals), while the highest mortality rate occurred in 2023 (0.013 per 1,000 inhabitants). Most cases evolved to cure (n = 237,878). Limitations included underreporting and the use of aggregated data; however, the temporal and population coverage strengthens the findings. There was an intensification of dengue in Santa Catarina between 2020 and 2023, with a clear seasonal pattern and high concentration in urban and coastal regions. Although lethality remained low, the absolute number of cases represents a significant burden on the healthcare system. Measures such as vaccination, surveillance, and vector control should be expanded to prevent new outbreaks and reduce social and economic impacts.
Balthazar et al. (2026) studied this question.