Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease, neglected and with a high stigmatizing burden, which remains a public health challenge in Brazil. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of leprosy cases reported in the municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, in Pernambuco, between 2004 and 2024. A descriptive, ecological, and retrospective study based on secondary data from the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Sociodemographic, clinical, and operational variables of reported cases in the municipality over a 20-year period were analyzed. Data were presented as absolute and relative frequencies. A total of 3.253 leprosy cases were reported between 2004 and 2024. Annual distribution showed a marked increase in notifications starting in 2021, reaching a peak in 2023 (n=293 cases). Monthly analysis identified the highest frequency in August (n=339). There was a predominance of males (50.5%) and of the 40–49-year age group (18.9%), followed by 30–39-years (17.1%) and 50–59 years (17.1%). Regarding racial and educational profile, there was a predominance of individuals self-declared as mixed race (48.1%; n=1,564), followed by white (21.7%; n=707) and Black (20.3%; n=662). The most frequent education level was incomplete elementary education (504 cases), complete high school (357), and incomplete high school (248); however, 1,121 records (34.5%) had education recorded as ignored or blank. The multibacillary classification was the most frequent (68.9%), predominating among men; the borderline clinical form was the most prevalent (40.1%), followed by tuberculoid (15.6%) and lepromatous (10.1%). Regarding detection, 74.2% were new cases, with other entry modes including relapse (5.3%) and transfer (5.2%). There was a high proportion of cases with disability at diagnosis: grade I (28.2%) and grade II (9.6%). The main treatment regimen was PQT/MB with 12 doses (59.8%), and 65.1% of patients evolved to cure. The data reveal the persistence of leprosy as a relevant condition, predominance of multibacillary forms, late detection, and a high proportion of disabilities, suggesting failures in early diagnosis. The findings reinforce the need to intensify active case finding strategies, contact surveillance, and strengthening of primary care to reduce the transmission chain and disease consequences.
Santos et al. (2026) studied this question.