Syphilis detection rate trend in aged people: Brazil, 2011-2019

To analyze the trend in the detection rate of syphilis in elderly people in Brazil from 2011 to 2019.

An ecological, time-series study with data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System. The temporal trend of syphilis detection rates was analyzed according to the Prais-Winsten linear regression method.

62,765 cases of syphilis in aged people were reported. There was a growing trend in the rate of syphilis detection in aged people in Brazil. The increase was of approximately six times, with a mean increase of 25% each year (annual percent change [APC]: 25.0; 95%CI 22.1-28.1). The increase in the detection rate was identified in both genders and for all age groups, with emphasis on the increase in females (APC: 49.1; 95%CI 21.9-26.8) and in the group aged 70 to 79 years old (APC: 25.8; 95%CI 23.3-28.3). All macro-regions of the country showed an increasing trend, with emphasis on the Northeast (APC: 51.2; 95%CI 43.0-59.8) and South (APC: 49.2; 95%CI 32.3-68.3).

The growing trend in the detection rate of syphilis in aged people throughout Brazil highlights the need for planning and developing effective and multidisciplinary prevention actions and assistance adapted to this public.